A promising Ghanaian scholar has been tragically killed in the United States.
Akpene Tetteh, a 37-year-old doctoral student from Ghana was shot dead in broad daylight in Savannah, Georgia, in early March 2026.
Akpene was pursuing her PhD in Health Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Public Health. She was an outstanding student on an incredibly fast track — she was expected to complete her doctorate in just three years this summer, something the university described as unprecedented.
She was working on her dissertation, focusing on improving health outcomes for adults living with diabetes in the US. Colleagues and the university community remember her as a brilliant, dedicated researcher with a bright future ahead.According to reports, gunfire erupted around 2:30 p.m. while she was out. Police responded quickly, found her with life-threatening injuries, and she was later pronounced dead at the scene.
A teenager was arrested in connection with the shooting shortly afterward.The news has sent shockwaves through the Ghanaian community and academic circles, as many reflect on the loss of such a talented young woman who left home to pursue higher education and make a meaningful impact.