A Ghanaian professor at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale, Dr. Kofi Akamani, has been shot dead in Illinois, United States, with his wife arrested in connection with the incident.
Akamani, 48, was reportedly shot on Saturday, September 19, 2026, in Jackson County, Illinois. Authorities said deputies responded to a reported shooting at about 5:00 p.m. near a residence along Lake Road, between Murphysboro and Carbondale.
He was found suffering from gunshot wounds and was transported to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, where he was later pronounced dead.
Following the shooting, law enforcement authorities arrested Akamani's 35-year-old wife, Betty Akamani. She has reportedly been charged with first-degree murder in connection with her husband's death.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation, and authorities have not publicly disclosed the events that allegedly led to the shooting.
A preliminary hearing in the case has reportedly been scheduled for October 6, 2026. The charge against Betty Akamani remains an allegation, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Distinguished Academic Career
Dr. Kofi Akamani was a professor of Forest Recreation and Conservation Social Science in the Department of Forestry at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
He joined Southern Illinois University in 2011 and was promoted to the rank of full professor in 2024.
His academic work focused on forestry, conservation, natural-resource management, rural communities and the relationship between environmental resources and community resilience.
Akamani's research also included work in Ghana, where he studied issues relating to forest management and the livelihoods of communities dependent on natural resources.
He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Development Planning from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana. He later earned an MPhil from the University of Oslo in Norway in 2006 and a PhD in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho in the United States.
His research and professional activities earned him recognition within the international scientific community. He served as Secretary General of the International Union of Biological Sciences for the 2026–2029 term.
University Community Mourns
News of Akamani's death has sent shockwaves through the academic community in Illinois and Ghana.
Southern Illinois University expressed condolences to his family, friends, students and colleagues following his death.
His death is also expected to be felt within Ghana's academic and professional communities, particularly among researchers and institutions involved in forestry, environmental conservation and natural-resource management.
Meanwhile, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Authorities are expected to provide further information as the investigation and court proceedings progress.
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