Belinda Sarkodie came to Canada in 2024 searching for safety, stability, and opportunity. But just months into her new life, the 26-year-old was killed while standing at a Hamilton bus stop with a friend.
Now, her death has left the local Ghanaian community reeling and demanding justice.
“She thought she was safe here,” Evelyn Aidoo, who Sarkodie lovingly referred to as her aunt told CBC. “It’s just not fair.”
A Shocking End to a Life Full of Hope
On Friday, Sarkodie was an “innocent bystander” caught in a deadly shooting near James Street North and King Street West in Hamilton. She had just called a friend to check in, less than an hour before she was shot.
According to witnesses, she was waiting at the bus stop with a friend, who momentarily stepped away. By the time he turned back, Sarkodie was on the ground. Despite emergency efforts, she died at the scene.
Hamilton police have issued a warrant for a 17-year-old suspect. No arrests had been made at the time of publication.
She Was Kind, Honest, Cheerful
Born in Konongo, Ghana, Sarkodie was the youngest of three siblings. She had moved to Canada to build a better life and was working at the Hamilton airport while helping support her mother back home. Her ultimate dream was to return to school and study environmental science.
“She was a hard worker. If you go to my workplace, it’s not an easy thing. They are all devastated,” said Grace Nasiru, her close friend and co-worker. “She was favoured by supervisors because she was so diligent.”
Co-workers described the days following her death as a “nightmare.”
Community Mourns and Mobilizes
Sarkodie’s death has shaken the Ghanaian community in Hamilton and beyond. Emmanuel Duodu, president of the Ghanaian-Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO), said he was heartbroken by the news.
“She had hopes and aspirations here in Canada,” Duodu said. “We must continue to live our lives, even through this pain.”
The GCAO, in collaboration with the Ghanaian Association of Hamilton, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $40,000 to cover funeral expenses and help her family travel to Canada.
A vigil is planned for Friday, July 18, 5–6 p.m., at the site of the shooting—King and James streets in downtown Hamilton. Flowers, candles, and handwritten notes already mark the bus stop where Sarkodie took her final breath.
A Call for Justice
For Aidoo and others who loved Belinda, one thing remains paramount: accountability.
“Belinda deserves justice,” Aidoo said, holding back tears.
Her family in Ghana is now working with local organizations in hopes of saying goodbye in person. The Ghanaian Association of Hamilton has pledged to support them during this difficult time.
