By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
New details have emerged following a court hearing involving 35-year-old Betty Akamani, who has been accused of fatally shooting her husband, Ghanaian academic Dr. Kofi Akamani, a professor at Southern Illinois University (SIU) in the United States.
Dr. Kofi Akamani, 48, died on September 19, 2026, after he was reportedly shot at a residence in Jackson County, Illinois. Authorities said he was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale after the incident, where he was pronounced dead.
Betty Akamani is facing two counts of first-degree murder and a charge of endangering the life or health of a child. She remains in custody without bond as the investigation and court proceedings continue.
At a pre-trial detention hearing on September 21, prosecutors presented information from an earlier legal case involving the couple. The prosecution referred to a 2024 order-of-protection proceeding in which Dr. Akamani had reportedly expressed concerns about his wife’s mental health.
According to prosecutors, documents from that earlier proceeding contained references to serious mental health difficulties, including alleged auditory hallucinations and accusations that were later investigated but found to be unsubstantiated. The information was presented as part of the prosecution’s case during the detention hearing.
Prosecutors also told the court that Betty Akamani had made allegations during police interviews that her husband was involved in trafficking children through a local restaurant. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office reportedly investigated the claims but found no evidence to support them.
Investigators also spoke with the couple’s children as part of the investigation. Prosecutors said information provided by the children contradicted the trafficking allegations made by Betty Akamani.
The allegations and evidence discussed during the hearing are part of an ongoing criminal case and have not yet been determined by a trial court. Betty Akamani remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless she is proven guilty.
Authorities allege that Dr. Akamani was shot after he went to his wife’s residence following a scheduled child-custody visitation drop-off. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation as prosecutors prepare their case.
The death of Dr. Akamani has attracted attention in both Ghana and the United States because of his academic career and contribution to forestry and environmental studies.
Dr. Akamani was a professor in the Forestry programme at Southern Illinois University. His academic work focused on areas including natural-resource management, forest and water governance, rural communities and environmental sustainability.
He had built a career in academia over several years and was involved in teaching, research and graduate education at SIU. His work also included research into the relationship between communities and natural resources, particularly in areas affected by environmental and economic changes.
His academic journey began in Ghana, where he studied Planning at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He later pursued further education in Norway and the United States before developing his academic career at Southern Illinois University.
Following his death, members of the SIU community have expressed grief over the loss of the professor. His colleagues and students are remembering him for his contribution to teaching, research and the university’s Forestry programme.
The Forestry programme has also announced plans for a vigil in his memory. The gathering is scheduled for 6 p.m. on September 22 on the front lawn of the Agriculture Building. A larger memorial service is expected to be organised at a later date.
As the university community prepares to honour Dr. Akamani’s memory, the criminal case against his wife is expected to continue through the court system.
Betty Akamani remains in custody while authorities continue their investigation. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 6, 2026, when further proceedings are expected to take place.
The case remains ongoing, and any additional evidence presented in court will be subject to examination through the legal process.
