See the list of Ghanaian agencies helping the US convict Ghanaians fingered in romance fraud scams

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US Department of Justice

The United States Government, through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, has published the names of Ghanaian agencies with whom they have collaborated in their investigation against romance fraud scams targeting victims in the United States.

On May 14, 2026, the US Department of Justice acknowledged the support and cooperation of its international partners.

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The U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer acknowledged international and national partners for their valuable assistance in this matter.

The Ghanaian institutions include,

Ghana Attorney General’s Office

EOCO – Economic Organised Crime Office

GPS – Ghana Police Service

Ghana Cyber Security Authority

NACOC – Ghana Narcotics Control Commission

Ghana Financial Intelligence Centre

Ghana Immigration Service

Ghana National Intelligence Bureau

FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra

In  that same publication, they also published a full list of Ghanaian nationals indicted for romance fraud scams.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 9 more Ghanaians have already pleaded guilty and been sentenced in connection with these romance fraud conspiracies:

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, in a detailed report, wrote, “CLEVELAND – Two brothers from Ghana and a woman from the U.S. have been indicted for allegedly being a part of a criminal network that devised romance fraud schemes to obtain money from victims by mostly targeting the elderly in the United States.

An indictment was recently unsealed in United States v. Jamal Abubakari, et al., charging the following three individuals with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering:

  • Jamal Abubakari, aka Jamal Abubakar, aka Arrangement, 22;
  • Kamal Abubakari, aka Kamal Abubakar, aka Lancaster, 22; and
  • Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, aka Amanda Joy Glum, aka Amanda Joy Kessei Bierman, 53.

All three defendants were arrested in Virginia and remain in custody pending further court proceedings.

According to allegations in the indictment, from about July 2024 to April 2026, the defendants targeted older Americans on dating websites and social media platforms to engage in romance fraud schemes. The defendants conspired with others to use fake personas to establish close personal relationships with the victims which were often romantic in nature. After being misled by false stories, the victims sent money via wire transfer to financial accounts controlled by conspiracy members. Portions of the funds were further provided to co-conspirators in Ghana and elsewhere.

A series of cases related to this matter, which have also charged conspiracies tied to Ghana for targeting elderly victims, have been assigned to one U.S. District Judge to coordinate proceedings. While many defendants in those matters are pending trial or sentencing, nine defendants have already pleaded guilty and been collectively sentenced to approximately 50 years of imprisonment.

In United States v. Frederick Kumi, aka Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, aka Abu Trica, and Daniel Yussif, aka Denteni, aka Slab, Kumi, 31, of Swedru, Ghana, and Yussif, 31, of Accra, Ghana, were charged in December 2025 with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy.

In United States v. David Onyinye Abuanekwu, et al., the defendants below are currently serving prison sentences after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy:

  • Dwayne Asafo Adjei, 29, a citizen of Ghana, was sentenced to 71 months of imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and ordered to pay $372,943 in restitution.
  • Nancy Adom, 30, of Akron and Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 71 months of imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and ordered to pay $1,079,559 in restitution.
  • Eric Aidoo, 46, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 71 months of imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and ordered to pay $668,228 in restitution.

The defendant below is currently serving a prison sentence after pleading guilty to Obstruction of Justice:

Nader Wasif, 31, of Brentwood, Tennessee, was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment; one year of supervised release; and ordered to pay $172,644 in restitution.

Additionally, Kelvin Asmah, 28, a citizen of Ghana, was recently arrested after being charged in a second superseding indictment.

In United States v. Otuo Amponsah, et al., the defendants below are currently serving prison sentences after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy:

  • Otuo Amponsah 34, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 108 months of imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and ordered to pay $3,324,675 in restitution.
  • Portia Joe 28, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment; three years supervised release; and ordered to pay $2,035,438 in restitution.
  • Anna Amponsah 35, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 108 months of imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and ordered to pay $1,444,639 in restitution.
  • Dwayne Asafo Adjei, 29, a citizen of Ghana, was sentenced to 71 months of imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and ordered to pay $372,943 in restitution. This will run concurrent to the sentence from U.S. v. Abuanekwu et al.
  • Hannah Adom, 27, of Akron and Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 71 months of imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and ordered to pay $278,894 in restitution.

Defendant Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, 37, of Cleveland, Ohio, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including prior criminal records, if any, roles in the offence, and the characteristics of the violations.

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