Ghanaian Professor Shot Dead By Wife In US Divorce Dispute

A Ghanaian professor based in the United States, Dr Kofi Akamani, has died after his wife allegedly shot him multiple times in a driveway in Illinois.

Betty Akamani, 35, has been charged with two counts of felony first-degree murder and one count of endangering the life or health of a child following the fatal shooting of her 48-year-old husband.

According to court records and the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office, the couple had been separated for about two years and were in the process of getting a divorce at the time of the incident.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a reported shooting at about 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Court records indicate Betty Akamani is accused of shooting her husband multiple times while he was sitting in his car in the driveway of her Murphysboro home.

Dr Akamani was taken to a hospital in Carbondale, where he later died from his injuries.

Jackson County State’s Attorney Marsha Cascio-Hale said the alleged shooting happened after Dr Akamani had dropped off their two children at Betty’s house.

“We understand that Dr Akamani had been bringing his children to his wife’s house after taking them out, when he was shot inside the car,” Cascio-Hale said.

The Jackson County office also alleged that the accused had a history of manipulation and false allegations against the deceased.

Betty Akamani appeared in court on Monday, September 21, where she was denied release and ordered to remain in the Jackson County Jail. Her preliminary hearing has been scheduled for October 6, 2026.

The charges against Betty Akamani are allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Dr Akamani was a professor of Forest Recreation and Conservation Social Science in the Department of Forestry at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he had worked for about 15 years. He was promoted to full professor in 2024 and served as director for graduate studies.

The forestry department at SIU paid tribute to the professor, writing on social media: “We are grieving the loss of one of our beloved forestry professors Dr Kofi Akamani. The forestry family loved him at the University and across the world.”

The department added that he had “a gentle and kind demeanour” with a “dedicated work ethic and positive attitude.”

“We will dearly miss Kofi. Our hearts go out to all the people who loved him”.

Jeff Harmon, chief communications and marketing officer at SIU, also said in a statement: “It is with a heavy heart that we have learned of the tragic passing of one of our faculty members, Dr. Kofi Akamani. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and students during this difficult time”.

Born and raised in Ghana, Dr Akamani earned his first degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2003, before obtaining an MPhil from the University of Oslo in 2006. He received his PhD in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho in 2011.

A vigil in honour of Dr Akamani was held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 6 p.m.