he wife of a Ghanaian professor at Southern Illinois University is facing murder charges in court.
Betty Akamani is accused of shooting her husband multiple times while he was inside a car after he had dropped off their two children.
In addition to the murder charge, the 35-year-old is also charged with endangering the life of a child.
Dr Kofi Akamani died at a hospital in Carbondale following the fatal shooting on Saturday, 19 September.
His death has shocked many people at home and abroad. The couple had been going through a divorce.
Court records show the two had been separated for two years and were trying to finalise their divorce.
It is not yet clear what the dispute between the two academics, who both worked at Southern Illinois University, was about.
The court has denied Betty Akamani bail on the grounds that she could be “a threat to the public.”
Jackson County State’s Attorney Marsha Cascio-Hale said the alleged shooting happened after Dr Akamani’s planned visit with his two daughters at Betty Akamani’s home.
“We understand that Dr Akamani was bringing his children back to his wife’s house after taking them out when he was shot inside the car.”
The Jackson County office also alleges that the accused has a history of manipulation and of making false allegations against the deceased.
Betty Akamani will remain in Jackson County jail and is due to appear at her next court hearing on 6 October.
Profile of Dr Kofi Akamani, Forestry Professor at Southern Illinois University
Photo: Southern Illinois University/Facebook. Professor Kofi Akamani died from multiple gunshot wounds on 19 September, according to Jackson County police.
Kofi Akamani was a professor of Forest Recreation and Conservation Social Science in the Department of Forestry at Southern Illinois University.
His research focused on rural communities in Ghana and the United States, covering areas such as forests, water resources and climate change.
He taught at Southern Illinois University for more than 10 years.
The 48-year-old was promoted to full professor in 2024 and served as director of graduate studies.
Before his death, he was teaching at least five classes.
He earned his first degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana in 2003, followed by an MPhil in Culture and Environmental Sustainability from the University of Oslo in 2006.
In 2011, he received a PhD in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho.
He published extensively, with more than 30 publications listed on the Southern Illinois University website.
Betty Akamani, who is facing the murder charge, is a research analyst at the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA).
She has also worked as an applied research associate and part-time consultant in Illinois since 2020.
She previously served as a research assistant at Southern Illinois University while pursuing a PhD in Psychology at Capella University.
The Forestry Department at Southern Illinois University has been paying tribute to the 45-year-old since his death.
“We are grieving the loss of one of our beloved forestry professors, Dr Kofi Akamani. He was loved by the forestry family at the University and around the world,” the department wrote on its social media page.
It added that he “had a gentle and kind demeanour, a dedicated work ethic and a positive attitude.”
“We will dearly miss Kofi. Our hearts go out to everyone who loved him.”
