At least 13 students from Ghana’s public universities have died from non-natural causes since 2024, according to a review of media reports conducted by JoyNews Research.
The deaths, largely linked to road accidents, suicides and violent incidents, have heightened concerns about student safety and welfare on university campuses across the country. The review excludes deaths attributed to illness and focuses solely on fatalities resulting from external causes.
The cases span some of Ghana’s largest tertiary institutions, including the University of Ghana, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the University of Cape Coast (UCC), the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) and Sunyani Technical University.
The highest number of recorded deaths occurred in 2024, when six students lost their lives. Four deaths were reported in 2025, while three have already been recorded during the first half of 2026.
According to the review, road and traffic accidents account for the largest share of the fatalities, with several incidents occurring on or near university campuses. Suicides represent the second-largest category, while a smaller number of cases involve suspected criminal attacks, drowning incidents and fatal falls.
KNUST recorded the highest number of reported student deaths during the period under review. Between late 2024 and early 2025, the university lost four students within roughly five months.
Among the most widely reported cases was the death of final-year student Joana Deladem Yabani, whose body was discovered near a campus building in February 2025. The incident sparked national outrage and renewed conversations about student safety and violence against women.
Her boyfriend, who was also a student of the university, was subsequently arrested and charged with murder. He remains on remand while prosecutors await legal advice from the Attorney-General’s Office.
Other KNUST-related fatalities included students who died in separate road accidents, some of which were captured on CCTV footage and widely circulated on social media.
The latest case to draw national attention is the death of Innocentia Avinu, a Level 200 student at the University of Cape Coast. She was reported missing after leaving her hostel on June 11, 2026, and her body was later discovered at Hutchland Beach near Cape Coast.
Police have since arrested a 39-year-old man who, according to preliminary investigations, picked her up from the hostel and drove her to the beach where she was last seen alive. Investigations remain ongoing, while a post-mortem examination is expected to determine the exact cause of death.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has directed that a full and transparent investigation be conducted into the incident and instructed the university to cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities.
The review also highlights concerns about mental health among university students. Several reported suicides have been linked to relationship challenges, academic pressures and emotional distress, prompting repeated calls from students and advocacy groups for stronger counselling and mental health support services on campuses.
Despite the growing concern, Ghana currently has no publicly accessible database that tracks student deaths at tertiary institutions. As a result, the figures cited in the review are based solely on cases reported in the media and may not represent the full scale of the issue.
The recurring incidents have intensified calls for improved campus security, better lighting in and around student residences, enhanced mental health support and stronger safety measures to protect students across the country’s universities.
Recorded deaths since 2024
| Date | Student | University | Cause | Investigation status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2024 | Priscilla (Business Admin, L100) | KNUST | Hit by speeding vehicle at Ayeduase; driver fled | Hit-and-run; investigation reported, no outcome public |
| Apr 16, 2024 | Unnamed student | UENR (Sunyani) | Killed in suspected armed-robbery ambush returning from field trip | One suspect arrested; counselling offered to survivors |
| Jul 9, 2024 | Adzo Ahadzie | KNUST | Knocked off bicycle by vehicle on campus road | On-campus road fatality; no outcome public |
| Dec 2024 | Afia Dedaa Osae-Atuah | KNUST | Struck by speeding trotro; captured on CCTV | Road fatality; no outcome public |
| Feb 27, 2025 | Joana Deladem Yabani | KNUST | Strangled; body found near campus building | Boyfriend charged with murder, remanded; awaiting Attorney-General’s advice |
| Apr 16, 2025 | Unnamed male (L100) | UEW (Winneba) | Suicide by hanging in hall of residence | Body handed to Winneba Police; investigation opened |
| ~Apr 2025 | Horlali Wisdom | Univ. of Ghana (Legon) | Car accident (L400 Education student) | Road fatality; no outcome public |
| Mar 2025 | Unnamed student | Sunyani Technical Univ. | Reported suicide | Referenced in coverage; details limited |
| 2025 | Two further reported deaths | KNUST | Part of cluster cited in national coverage | Details limited in reports |
| Feb 8, 2026 | Ransford Amankwah Asomani | KNUST | Fell from 2nd floor of off-campus hostel | Autopsy ordered to determine cause |
| Mar 5, 2026 | Kweku Mensah | UCC (Cape Coast) | Motorcycle collided with bus on campus | UCC Police and MTTD investigating; post-mortem pending |
| Jun 11–12, 2026 | Innocentia Avinu | UCC (Cape Coast) | Found dead at Hutchland Beach after leaving hostel | 39-year-old man arrested Jun 15; minister ordered full probe; post-mortem pending |
Source: review of Ghanaian media reports. Not an official or exhaustive count. Some deaths occurred just off campus or in transit. Causes shown as reported; several remain under investigation.
KNUST has lost the most. Between late 2024 and early 2025 it recorded four student deaths in roughly five months. They ranged from road crashes, some caught on CCTV and shared widely online, to the killing of Joana Deladem Yabani, a final-year student whose body was found near a campus building in February 2025.
Her boyfriend, who was also a student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), was arrested and charged with murder. He has since been remanded on multiple occasions as prosecutors await legal advice from the Attorney-General’s Office.
The case sparked widespread public outrage and led to renewed calls from women’s rights organisations for justice and accountability.
Available reports indicate that road and traffic accidents account for the majority of student deaths recorded in recent years, with several occurring on or near university campuses.
Suicides represent the second-largest category. A number of these cases have been linked to relationship challenges, academic pressures and mental health struggles.
In April 2025, a first-year student of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), was found dead in his hall of residence in what was reported as a suicide. The incident was among several similar cases that intensified calls from students for improved mental health support and counselling services on university campuses.
Other reported causes of student deaths include drowning incidents and fatal falls.
A review by JoyNews Research shows that universities have generally responded to student deaths and related incidents by launching investigations, ordering post-mortem examinations and pledging to strengthen campus security.
In one such case in 2024, a student of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) was attacked by suspected armed robbers while returning from a field trip. The university later confirmed that a suspect had been arrested by police and said counselling support was being provided to affected students.
The incidents have reignited concerns about student welfare and mental health on university campuses, with student leaders calling for improved security measures, better lighting in and around campuses, and easier access to counselling services.
The actual number of student deaths may be higher than publicly known. Checks indicate that Ghana currently has no publicly accessible database that officially tracks university student deaths, meaning available figures are based largely on cases reported in the media.
The latest case has attracted significant public attention. Innocentia Avinu, a 20-year-old Level 200 student at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), was reported missing after leaving her hostel on June 11 to meet someone off campus.
Her body was discovered along the shoreline at Hutchland Beach near Cape Coast the following day.
Police said an initial examination found no visible injuries and dismissed social media claims that parts of her body had been removed. Investigators urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information while awaiting the outcome of a post-mortem examination.
On June 15, police announced the arrest of a 39-year-old man who, according to preliminary investigations, picked up the student from her hostel and drove her to the beach where she was last seen alive.
Authorities say investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death are ongoing.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has directed that a full and transparent investigation be conducted into the case and instructed the University of Cape Coast to cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies.
The university has said it is working closely with investigators and has assured students and staff of their safety as it reviews security arrangements on campus and at its hostels.