Citizenship revoked for Wilmington man convicted of sexually abusing child

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A Ghana man who moved to the United States nearly 30 years ago and later became a U.S. citizen has been stripped of his citizenship and will be deported.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a judge revoked the naturalized U.S. citizenship of Prempeh Ernest Agyemang, 58, of Wilmington.

Agyemang must also surrender his Certificate of Naturalization and anything else that identifies him as a U.S. citizen to federal authorities.

The court found that prior to naturalizing, Agyemang engaged in sexual abuse of a 9-year-old child, for which he was later convicted after pleading guilty. This prior conduct rendered Agyemang ineligible for U.S. citizenship because he did not show the moral conduct necessary for naturalization.

Additionally, throughout his naturalization proceedings Agyemang misrepresented and hid his unlawful activity.

“Under our laws, United States citizenship is conferred on those who demonstrate honesty and integrity, who respect our laws, and who can demonstrate the moral character necessary to be a positive and cultivating member of American society,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Higdon. “The defendant fell short of that mark in every regard and we are satisfied that this Court saw fit to revoke his naturalized citizenship. As part of the Justice Department’s mission to enforce the nation’s immigration laws, we will seek denaturalizations in cases where individuals are dishonest and where criminal activity demonstrated the lack of moral character necessary for American citizenship.”

Agyemang was admitted to the United States in 1989. Agyemang began sexually abusing a child in 1999 or early 2000.

After the sexual abuse began, while under oath during his naturalization interview, Agyemang stated that he had never committed a crime or offense for which he was not arrested.

Relying on this answer, USCIS granted his naturalization application and Agyemang became a U.S. citizen.

On November 5, 2003, Agyemang pleaded guilty in Gaston County to sexually abusing the child.

“This order sends a clear message to individuals who commit any type of sexual offense, particularly those involving children, during the naturalization process – we will investigate you and seek you out to ensure that justice is done,” said Acting ICE Director Ronald D. Vitiello.

The US Attorney’s Office did not have a time frame on when Agyemang will be deported.

Agyemang spent 3 and a half years in prison.

His current address is listed in New Hanover County.