Akwasi was trained as a criminologist at Carleton University in Ottawa and the University of Toronto in Canada. He began his academic career as a professor at Indiana University Bloomington in the United States. His academic work has focused mainly on the intersections of inequality and criminal justice. He has conducted extensive research across all areas of the criminal justice system, including police, courts, and corrections. He also focuses considerable attention to drug policy in North America and around the world.
Akwasi’s research has yielded numerous peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and books. He is a frequent speaker in academic and public forums and engages regularly with international media. His work and commentary have featured recently by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Economist, and The Guardian, among others.
