Harrison Adu Boakye, a 46-year-old man is the recent Ghanaian culprit arrested in connection to murder in the United States in the past few years.
Boakye was arrested after a domestic incident that led to the death of his 33-year-old wife on Friday, July 7, 2023, in Fleetwood.
A few weeks ago, another Ghanaian, Michael Amoako reportedly shot himself after attempting to kill his wife in a domestic incident in Columbus.
The gunshot killed him while his wife, Harriet Yaa Gyamfua Aboagye was left critically injured.
With a number of such cases making headlines in recent years, many may be wondering what causes some Ghanaians considered “lucky” for making it to such a sought-after country to resort to violence, get mired with the law, and mar their lives.
The Ghana Report takes a look at some cases which have been in the news with regard to taking the lives of others in the US.
- Kenneth Baffour
The 21-year-old was arrested on May 11, 2023, in connection with the death of a 53-year-old man in north Columbus.
Before his arrest, a cash reward was offered to any member of the public with any information on him. He subsequently surrendered himself to the police and was detained.
Police detectives alleged that Baffour shot Romero-Gutierrez during a verbal altercation on April 29, 2023, and escaped from the scene in a car driven by his friend.
Kenneth and his friend, Joseph Mansaray were charged with murder and are awaiting trial.
- Daniel Kankam
The US-based Ghanaian, Daniel Kankam, was arrested by the Alexandria Police, Virginia for killing his alleged mistress, Somaya Hussein Ahmed in January 2019.
48-year-old Kankam was arrested after the police responded to a call at which time the victim’s body was discovered.
Kankam owned a security company named K-1 Tactical Security and the victim was initially his employee.
However, the relationship quickly became romantic. According to the victim’s friends, her relationship with the married Kankam was extremely volatile.
He was subsequently charged with murder. At trial, the defendant testified in his own defense and maintained he had not killed the victim.
However, on September 23, 2019, a jury convicted Kankam of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of murder based on video evidence recovered at the crime scene.
He was sentenced to a total of 26 years imprisonment.
- Isaac K. Amissah
In December 2021, the former Virginia State University student was charged with the shooting to death of a fellow student at the university.
The victim, Daniel N. Wharton, 19, was with a friend who allegedly tried to rob Amissah during a marijuana transaction, prompting Amissah to open fire.
He shot Wharton five times, including shots to his head and neck, and he died on December 5 after he was rushed to a nearby hospital.
The then 21-year-old Amissah was charged with murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
He was subsequently sentenced to 16 years in prison for the fatal shooting in October 2022.
- Dennis Mensah
The 29-year-old Ghanaian in the United States of America, Dennis Mensah was arrested after he reportedly killed a friend in September 2020.
The victim, 31-year-old Prince Asare popularly known as P Biggs was also a Ghanaian living in Ohio.
According to reports, the two Ghanaians got into a fight after their two vehicles collided. When the fight became heated, Mensah pulled out a gun and shot his fellow countryman.
P Biggs was taken to the nearby Ohio Health Riverside Methodist Hospital in critical condition by emergency personnel but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Mensah was charged with murder.
- Sylvester Ofori
The Florida-based Ghanaian pastor was arrested after shooting his 27-year-old wife in September 2020.
Barbara Tommey was on her way to work when Ofori shot her multiple times outside her office.
She was pronounced dead at Orlando Regional Medical Center shortly afterwards.
He had threatened his brother-in-law he would kill his sister hours before the act was carried out.
The couple who were in the middle of a divorce and were separated at the time of the incident due to alleged domestic abuse, were married for five years.
Ofori was the pastor of the Floodgates of Heaven church and, described himself as a prophet and motivational speaker.
Two years after the murder, Ofori was brought to court in April 2023 to stand trial.
According to reports, he turned down a plea deal from the prosecution and the judge adjourned the case to July 15, 2023.
- Anthony Erzuah
The New York-based Ghanaian was apprehended in July 2022 after he reportedly stabbed his 52-year-old wife to death.
Police found Monica Akua lying in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds at her home in the Bronx on July 14, 2022.
She was taken to Saint Barnabas Medical Center by emergency personnel, where she was later pronounced dead.
Erzuah was later taken into Police custody and charged with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.
- Aaron Mensah
The 23-year-old was shot dead when the Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a stabbing at a Frederick home in November 2022.
He allegedly stabbed his parents and killed his father in the process.
According to a report by Fox News, a 911 caller, who also happened to be Mensah’s sister, reported that her brother was stabbing their parents.
The report further indicated that when three additional deputies arrived, they encountered an armed man and fired their weapons.