Dr. Kofi Akamani

Dr. Kofi Akamani was born on July 28, 1978, in Akropong, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, to Mary Nchor and Akamani Abache. As the eldest of six children (three sisters and two brothers), he grew up leading a close-knit family.

Dr. Kofi Akamani’s educational journey is a testament to academic excellence, determination, and an enduring drive for self-improvement. He began his formal education in the mid-1980s at Penworth Preparatory School in Akropong, located in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Recognizing his exceptional aptitude, the school granted him permission to sit for the highly competitive Common Entrance Examination while he was in fourth grade, yet he excelled.

In 1989, at the age of 11, young Kofi gained admission to Osei Tutu Secondary School. He pursued a curriculum in the General Arts, specializing in Economics, Government, Geography, and Further Mathematics, and successfully graduated with his General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level certificate in 1994.

He then enrolled at St. John Bosco’s Teacher Training College in Navrongo, Upper East Region, where he earned a Diploma in Basic Education. Following his graduation, he was posted to teach in Bongo, a community in the Upper East Region of Ghana, where his dedication to education earned him the distinction of being judged the best teacher in the Bongo-Gowrie district. Driven by a strong desire to advance his academic pursuit, Dr. Akamani undertook private study for the GCE Advanced Level examinations, gaining admission to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 1999 to study BSc. in Planning, graduated in 2003, and became a teaching assistant in the same institution. He then went on to earn his MPhil in Culture, the Environment and Sustainability from University of Oslo in Norway in 2006 and a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Sciences from the University of Idaho in 2011. He was a Professor of Forest Recreation and Conservation Social Sciences, Director of Graduate Studies in the School of Forestry and Horticulture, and Director of the Agricultural Sciences Ph.D. program at Southern Illinois University, having started his career at SIU in 2011.

Dr. Akamani was a beloved member of the SIU Forestry family. His teaching focused on integrating human dimensions into natural resource management to promote sustainability. He was sought out by students and colleagues for his cheerful demeanor, quiet wisdom and global perspective. He had a way of broadening horizons and making students feel valued. He was the faculty mentor for the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences students at SIU.

His research focused on the relationship between people and natural resources - how governments, scientists, and communities can come together to utilize and protect natural resources on local and global scales. Throughout his career, Dr. Akamani made significant contributions to the understanding of forests, biodiversity, climate change, and sustainable development. He was a highly respected international scholar that contributed to multiple interdisciplinary reports including the ecosystems chapter of the U.S. government’s Fifth National Climate Assessment, the International Union of Forest Research Organizations Forests as Pillars of Social and Economic Resilience assessment, and the United Nations Environment Programme Global Environment Outlook 7 assessment. He also served as Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Sustainable Forestry. Dr. Akamani was the recipient of the 2016 Early Career Faculty Excellence Award from the College of Agriculture at SIU, as well as the 2023 International Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Idaho’s College of Natural Resources. In June 2026, he was elected to a three-year term as Secretary General of the International Union of Biological Sciences.

He passed away on September 19, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of profound mentorship, global scholarship, and an unwavering commitment to sustainable environmental stewardship that will continue to inspire students, colleagues, and communities worldwide. Beyond his distinguished academic career, he was a loving father and a wonderful family man and died in line of fatherly duties. He is survived by his two adorable daughters, Naomii and Mary, his parents, and five siblings.

Indeed, a void has been created in our hearts and home, but we find consolation in the Lord, knowing that He has called him away from the troubles and sorrows of this world and granted him eternal rest in His presence. We are forever grateful to God for the time He gave us with you here on earth. You will always be our senior brother, our role model, a wonderful dad to your girls, and the astute professor whose brilliance and dedication touched so many lives. Keep smiling and watching over your girls and all of us, Kofi. It is incredibly hard to say goodbye, but we trust that God will give us the strength to carry on and see us through. We miss you dearly!!!

Rest Peacefully Dr. Kofi Akamani till we meet again.

A time of visitation and viewing for family and friends will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026 from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the SIU Student Center Ballrooms, followed by a time of sharing at 7:00pm. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, October 2, 2026 at 10:00am in St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Murphysboro. Burial will follow in St. Andrew’s Catholic Cemetery. For those who cannot attend the service, it will be livestreamed at the following link, https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/a26092681269815.

Memorial donations may be given to his children with checks being written in care of Martha Akamani Abache or donated online at https://gofund.me/4228d74f7 or to the SIU Foundation Akamani Memorial Scholarship Fund with donations accepted online at siuf.org/kofi-akamani. Memorials will be accepted at the visitation and Funeral Mass or mailed in care of Meredith Funeral Home, 300 S. University Ave; Carbondale, IL 62901.

Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale is in charge of arrangements. To leave a story or memory of Dr. Akamani, visit www.meredithfh.com