A chilling account of the events leading up to the murder of Joana Yabane Deladem Aku, a 21-year-old Level 400 Biological Science student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has emerged.
According to reports, the suspect, Daniel, allegedly pressed Joana’s neck to death after a heated argument.
The incident occurred on Thursday, February 27, 2025, behind the Central Laboratory of the university campus. Joana’s lifeless body was discovered at approximately 5am by a security guard.
An autopsy report confirmed that Joana died from strangulation.
Investigations revealed that Daniel and Joana had a tumultuous relationship. On the day of the incident, the two had a disagreement, which escalated into a physical altercation.
The suspect, Daniel allegedly pushed Joana from behind, hitting her on the ground, stamping on her, and using his knee to choke her until she became unresponsive.
“The suspect, Daniel, was arrested and charged with murder.
He has been remanded in prison custody for two weeks pending further investigation,” said the police in a statement.
The police also confirmed that Daniel and Joana had reported each other to the police over a stolen phone, which was a major source of their disagreement.
A video that has gone viral on social media appears to show Daniel and Joana in a heated argument at the university’s department of biology.
The video, which was recorded by a witness, shows Daniel and Joana exchanging insults before Daniel allegedly attacked her.
The university management has assured students of their safety, citing enhanced security measures already in place.
“The university is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our students. We urge anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist the police with their investigation,” said the university in a statement.
As the investigation continues, the KNUST community remains in shock, mourning the loss of a promising young life.
-BY Daniel Bampoe
