Ghanaian-born lecturer at Southern Illinois University (SIU), Kofi Akamani, has been shot dead in Illinois, United States.
Ghanaian Professor Kofi Akamani Dies in Illinois Shooting
Ghanaian-born professor Kofi Akamani, 48, of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, has died following a shooting in Jackson County, Illinois, on Saturday, September 19.
Akamani was pronounced dead at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale after suffering gunshot injuries. Police arrested Betty Akamani, 35, in connection with the incident, although authorities have not disclosed the charges or the circumstances leading to the shooting.
Akamani joined SIU in 2011 and became a full professor in 2024. His research focused on forest conservation, natural resource management and rural communities, and he contributed to major national and international environmental assessments.
Born and raised in Ghana, Akamani earned his bachelor’s degree in 2003 before obtaining a master’s degree from the University of Oslo and a PhD from the University of Idaho.
The investigation remains ongoing.
