New details have emerged following the death of Ghanaian academic Dr Kofi Akamani in Illinois, United States, with authorities continuing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Dr Akamani, a 48-year-old professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU), died following a shooting incident reported in Jackson County on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
According to reports, deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a shooting in the area between Murphysboro and Carbondale at about 5:00 p.m.
Dr Akamani was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale for medical attention but was later pronounced dead.
His wife, Dr Betty Akamani, 35, was arrested in connection with the incident and is facing murder charges. Authorities have not publicly established the circumstances that led to the incident, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The latest developments have reportedly brought attention to a family dispute involving the couple, including issues surrounding the custody of their children. However, the authorities have not indicated that any particular family dispute was the confirmed cause of the incident.
The case has attracted significant attention among Ghanaians, particularly because of Dr Akamani’s academic career and contributions to natural-resource management and conservation.
Dr Akamani was a professor in the Department of Forestry at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he specialised in forest recreation and conservation social science.
He joined the university in 2011 and was promoted to full professor in 2024. He also served as director of the Agricultural Sciences doctoral programme and graduate studies in forestry.
His academic work focused on natural-resource management, conservation and the relationship between forest-dependent communities and environmental governance.
Dr Akamani began his education in Ghana at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Development Planning with a specialisation in Urban Planning.
He later obtained an MPhil from the University of Oslo in 2006 before earning a PhD in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho.
During his doctoral studies, he returned to Ghana to conduct research into collaborative forest management and its effects on communities that depend on forests in the Ashanti Region.
His professional contributions extended beyond his university duties. In June 2026, he was reportedly elected secretary-general of the International Union of Biological Sciences and had also served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Sustainable Forestry.
Following news of his death, Southern Illinois University expressed condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and students.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and other authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. Officials have indicated that the case remains in its early stages, and further details are expected as the investigation and court proceedings progress.
Dr Betty Akamani is expected to face the legal process in connection with the allegations. The charges against her remain allegations unless and until established in court.
The death of Dr Akamani has left colleagues, students and members of the Ghanaian community mourning an academic whose career was centred on forestry, conservation and natural-resource management.