A chilling murder case at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has left students, faculty, and the broader Ghanaian public grappling with questions and demanding answers. The victim, Joana Deladem Yabani, a final-year Biological Sciences student, was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, Daniel Tuffuor, also a final-year student, in a shocking incident that unfolded on campus in the early hours of February 27, 2025. As details emerge, the story of a troubled relationship, a fatal altercation, and a calculated cover-up has gripped the nation.
A Relationship Marked by Turmoil
According to sources close to the investigation, Joana and Daniel’s relationship stretched back to their first year at KNUST, known locally as Level 100, and persisted through their final year, Level 400. However, it was far from smooth. The couple reportedly sought help at the KNUST Counselling Centre on at least five occasions, battling “serious relationship problems.” Joana’s father, concerned for his daughter’s well-being, urged the pair to part ways. But Daniel, described by those familiar with the case as “obsessed,” refused to let go.The tension wasn’t new. An audio recording obtained from a friend of Joana revealed disturbing prior incidents: Joana confided that Daniel had slapped her twice. Despite this, she admitted she still loved him and had forgiven him—a decision that now haunts those who knew her.
The Night of the Tragedy
The events leading to Joana’s death began innocently enough. On the evening of February 26, the couple, along with two other classmates, studied late into the night at the Biological Sciences Library. Between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., they left the library, parting ways with their peers as they headed toward their hostel. What happened next remains a subject of intense scrutiny.Somewhere along the route, a “little argument” erupted, according to Daniel’s later account to friends. But what he described as minor quickly escalated into a deadly encounter. Investigators say Daniel, unable to control his emotions, pushed Joana to the ground. In a horrifying sequence captured by campus CCTV, he allegedly knelt on her neck for two minutes, strangling her until she stopped breathing.Realizing she was dead, Daniel reportedly shook her lifeless body for five minutes before dragging it to the nearby Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation. There, he sat with her corpse for 14 minutes, then took her laptop and walked away—calmly, as if nothing had happened. He later hid the laptop behind Flint Hostel, a location that would prove critical to his undoing.
A Bold Facade and a Damning Discovery
In a move that stunned investigators, Daniel returned to campus later that morning—still wearing the same shirt he’d worn during the crime—to write an exam. Friends reached out, asking if he’d heard about Joana’s death. His response was chillingly nonchalant: he claimed they’d argued on the way back to the hostel, that Joana told him to walk ahead, and that when he turned around, she was gone. He assumed she’d taken a different route.But Daniel’s story didn’t hold up. Around 5 a.m., Joana’s body was discovered, prompting an outcry from students and passersby. By 6 a.m., the news had spread, amplified by a publication from the student-run KNUST Gazette, sparking widespread concern over campus security. The university, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and KNUST Security Services, launched an immediate investigation.CCTV footage soon revealed the grim truth: Daniel was no bystander—he was the “mastermind” behind Joana’s death. A teaching assistant in the Biological Sciences Department spotted him during his exam, still in the incriminating shirt, and alerted authorities. Daniel was arrested on February 27 and arraigned before the Asafo Circuit Court the following day. Prosecutors requested his remand to allow further investigation, a request granted by the court. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear again on March 17, 2025.
Unanswered Questions Linger
The laptop wasn’t the only item recovered. Joana had reported her phone stolen two days before her death, though it’s unclear what action KNUST security took at the time. Police later found both her phone and laptop hidden behind Flint Hostel, bolstering the case against Daniel. Signs of violence on Joana’s body, noted during the initial police examination, further corroborated the footage.Yet, one question looms large: What drove Daniel to kill Joana over what he dismissed as a “little argument”? Students and the public alike are skeptical, with many arguing the official narrative doesn’t fully add up. Posts on X reflect this unease, with the KNUST community questioning how a four-year relationship could end in such brutality—and why more wasn’t done to intervene sooner.
A Campus on Edge
In response to the tragedy, KNUST has ramped up security, deploying over 50 police officers and mobile patrol teams across campus. The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, expressed gratitude to the Inspector General of Police for swift action, though she called the loss “heartbreaking, especially for parents.” The investigation continues, with authorities vowing to uncover the full truth.As Daniel awaits his March 17 hearing, Ghana waits too—for justice, for clarity, and for answers to a crime that has shaken one of its premier institutions to its core. Joana Deladem Yabani’s soul, as the KNUST Gazette poignantly noted, now rests in peace. But for those left behind, peace remains elusive.Stay tuned to CountryGhana News for updates on this developing story