A US-based Ghanaian academic, Dr Kofi Akamani, has died after being fatally shot in Jackson County, Illinois, United States. His wife, 35-year-old Betty Akamani, has been arrested and is facing first-degree murder charges in connection with his death. The investigation remains ongoing.
According to reports, deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting near a residence off Lake Road, between Murphysboro and Carbondale, at about 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Akamani, 48, was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.
Dr Akamani was a professor of Forest Recreation and Conservation Social Science at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He joined the university in 2011 and became a full professor in 2024. His academic work focused on natural-resource management, rural communities and the resilience of communities affected by environmental and economic change.
His academic journey began in Ghana, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Development Planning, specialising in Urban Planning, from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He later obtained an MPhil from the University of Oslo and a PhD in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho.
Authorities have not released full details surrounding the circumstances of the shooting. The case remains under investigation, and allegations against the accused should be determined through the legal process.
Dr Akamani’s death has prompted condolences from Southern Illinois University, which described his passing as a tragic loss to his family, colleagues, students and the wider university community.
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