Ghanaian professor Dr Kofi Akamani has died after being shot in Illinois, United States, with his wife, 35-year-old Betty Akamani, arrested in connection with the incident.
Dr Akamani, 48, was a professor at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale, where he worked in the Department of Forestry.
According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a report of a shooting at about 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at a residence near Lake Road between Murphysboro and Carbondale.
Dr Akamani was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale after sustaining injuries in the incident but was later pronounced dead.
Authorities subsequently arrested Betty Akamani in connection with the shooting. Officials said she faces murder charges, with the case remaining under investigation.
Local authorities have indicated that the investigation is still in its early stages and have not released detailed information about what led to the shooting.
Reports from local authorities said Betty Akamani was expected to appear in court on September 21, where formal charges were to be addressed. Other reports indicate that her preliminary hearing has been scheduled for October 6.
The circumstances surrounding the incident, including what led to the shooting, have not been fully disclosed by investigators.
Southern Illinois University expressed sadness over the death of Dr Akamani and extended condolences to his family, friends, students and colleagues.
Dr Akamani had built a lengthy academic career at the university. He joined SIU in 2011 and became a full professor of Forest Recreation and Conservation Social Science in 2024.
His work focused on natural-resource management, conservation and the relationship between rural communities and environmental and economic changes. He also served as director of the Agricultural Sciences doctoral programme and director of graduate studies in forestry.
Born and raised in Ghana, Dr Akamani began his tertiary education at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Planning with a specialisation in urban planning.
He later obtained a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Oslo in Norway in 2006 before completing a PhD in Natural Resources at the University of Idaho in 2011.
During his doctoral studies, he returned to Ghana to conduct research into collaborative forest management and its impact on the social and ecological resilience of communities dependent on forests in the Ashanti Region.
His academic contributions extended beyond Southern Illinois University. He contributed to national and international environmental assessments and, in June 2026, was elected secretary general of the International Union of Biological Sciences for a three-year term. He also served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Sustainable Forestry.
Dr Akamani’s death has therefore brought an end to the career of a Ghanaian academic who had spent about 15 years working and conducting research in the United States.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the shooting continues, and authorities are expected to provide further information as the case progresses through the US justice system.
The allegations against Betty Akamani remain subject to the legal process, and a charge or arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.
Source: Thepressradio.com
