While Ghana grapples with rising violent crimes linked to foreign nationals, a different story of resilience, reform, and hope is unfolding thousands of miles away in Canada. At the centre of this story is Dr Akwesi Owusu Bempah, a Ghanaian-born academic whose work is shaping policing reforms and community safety in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

In Ghana, public anxiety has been heightened in recent years by heinous crimes such as armed and bank robberies, money laundering, rape, and murder, many of them attributed to foreign nationals, particularly Nigerians. These challenges have put Ghana’s law enforcement and judicial systems under pressure to safeguard citizens and maintain stability. While the national conversation often revolves around crime and its corrosive effect on peace and development, stories of Ghanaians abroad contributing to solutions in other parts of the world are less told.

One such story is that of Dr Akwesi Owusu Bempah, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Toronto, who has emerged as a respected voice in the global effort to fight racial discrimination, crime, and systemic inequality. His work has gained recognition not only in academic circles but also among law enforcement and policymakers in Canada.

Last year, the Peel Regional Police [PRP] and the Peel Police Service Board [PPSB], responsible for one of Canada’s most diverse and populous regions, announced sweeping new measures to reduce racial disparities in policing. The reforms followed the release of Peel Regional Police’s 2024 Use of Force Report, which revealed disproportionate levels of police force used against Black, Indigenous, and other racialised communities. Dr Bempah’s research and insights were instrumental in shaping the conversation that led to these changes.

“We cannot achieve true public safety without fairness, transparency, and equity,” DDrBempah has often stressed in his lectures and public engagements. “Policing must be about building trust, not fear, especially in diverse communities like Peel.”

The Greater Toronto Area (GTA), which includes cities like Mississauga and Brampton, is home to hundreds of thousands of immigrants, including a vibrant Ghanaian community. Yet, like many multicultural regions, it has struggled with issues of racial profiling, over-policing, and systemic discrimination. Community leaders say DrDrkwesi Owusu Bempah’s contributions through data-driven research, community outreach, and police consultations have given marginalised groups a stronger voice.

Statistics back up the urgency of his work. According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Black residents in Toronto are nearly 20 times more likely than white residents to be shot by police. Similar disparities exist across Canada, eroding trust between racialised communities and law enforcement.

Against this backdrop, Dr Bempah’s efforts are both timely and transformative. His work aligns closely with initiatives like Peel’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, which emphasises prevention, intervention, and collaboration between police, social services, and community organisations.

For many Ghanaians in Canada, his achievements are a source of pride. “It’s encouraging to see one of our own not only succeeding in academia but also directly influencing policies that make our communities safer,” says Nana Adjei, a Ghanaian community organiser in Brampton. “Dr Bempah is proof that Ghana has the intellectual power to shape the world positively.”

Meanwhile, the contrast with Ghana’s domestic challenges is striking. In Accra, Kumasi, and other urban ccentres concerns about violent crime dominate headlines. The Ghana Police Service has launched operations to curb armed robberies and cybercrime, but many Ghanaians remain uneasy. Experts argue that strengthening community trust, improving police accountability, and investing in crime prevention could help Ghana address these issues, lessons that echo the reforms now underway in Peel.

Dr. Bempah himself has acknowledged the parallels. In a 2023 panel discussion, he noted, “Whether in Accra or Toronto, the principles are the same: justice, equity, and accountability.”
Crime flourishes where people lose faith in institutions. Restoring that faith is our greatest challenge and opportunity.”

The recognition of his work extends beyond Peel. Nationally, DDrBempah has contributed to discussions on cannabis lelegalisationsystemic racism in the criminal justice system, and the role of data transparency in policing. His expertise is frequently sought by Canadian media, underscoring his influence as both a scholar and public intellectual.

As Ghana struggles with crime at home and the global Ghanaian diaspora seeks to contribute to solutions abroad, the example of Dr Akwesi Owusu Bempah offers inspiration. His work demonstrates that addressing crime is not only about enforcement but also about reimagining justice, fairness, and community resilience.

For a nation like Ghana ,where peace and stability are vital to economic growth, the lessons from Canada’s reforms are worth noting. And for the Ghanaian diaspora, Dr Bempah’s achievements remind us that the fight for justice is borderless.

In the end, his story is not just about policing in Canada. It’s about a Ghanaian voice shaping global conversations on justice, equality, and safety at a time when both Ghana and Canada urgently need those voices to be heard.

Book Review: Waiting to Inhale – Cannabis Legalisation and the Fight for Racial Justice

Waiting to Inhale is not just a book about cannabis; it’s a bold, deeply researched, and human story about justice, equity, and the power of reform.

Dr Akwesi Owusu-Bempah and Tahira Rehmatullah unravel the complex relationship between cannabis legalisation and systemic racism, exposing how decades of prohibition have disproportionately harmed Black and marginalised communities. Blending data with lived experience, the authors take readers on a journey from criminalisation to capitalism, asking the hard question, “Who truly benefits from legalisation, and who has been left behind?”

With its compelling storytelling and razor-sharp analysis, Waiting to Inhale challenges policymakers, business leaders, and everyday citizens to think beyond profit and embrace fairness in the new cannabis economy.

Both eye-opening and empowering, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in social justice, criminal reform, and the future of equitable entrepreneurship. Available now on Amazon, it’s a timely reminder that real progress means repairing the past while reimagining the future.