09/22/2026
TRAGEDY IN THE US: GHANAIAN PROFESSOR KOFI AKAMANI SHOT DEAD; WIFE ARRESTED
The Ghanaian community in the United States is mourning the death of Dr. Kofi Akamani, a 48-year-old Ghanaian professor at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale, who was fatally shot in Illinois on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
Dr. Akamani was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, where he was pronounced dead from injuries sustained in the shooting.
His wife, 35-year-old Betty Akamani, was arrested following the incident and is facing multiple charges, as the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation.
Dr. Akamani was a professor of Forest Recreation and Conservation Social Science in SIU’s Department of Forestry. He joined the university in 2011 and was promoted to full professor in 2024. His work focused on natural-resource management, rural communities, environmental change and the relationship between people and their natural environment.
Born and raised in Ghana, Dr. Akamani began his academic journey at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he earned a degree in Planning with a specialization in Urban Planning. He later obtained an MPhil from the University of Oslo in Norway and a PhD in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho.
His academic achievements extended far beyond the classroom. He contributed to major international environmental assessments and was involved in research concerning forests, biodiversity, water, food, climate change and sustainable development. He also served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sustainable Forestry.
Southern Illinois University has indicated that a memorial will be held to celebrate his life.
For a Ghanaian who travelled abroad, built an academic career and rose to the rank of professor, his death is a painful reminder of how suddenly life can change. May Dr. Kofi Akamani rest in peace.
