The family of Joana Yabani, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) student who was allegedly murdered on campus in February this year, has made a heartfelt appeal for justice.
The family is urging Ghana’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Attorney General, and the judges handling the case to expedite proceedings and ensure a swift conclusion to the matter.
According to them, despite multiple court appearances since the case began, the trial has been plagued by repeated adjournments, leaving the family in anguish.
“This raises a serious concern — what exactly is happening with our judicial system regarding this case? A swift resolution is imperative. Is justice delayed, justice denied? We are sending this appeal to the IGP, the Attorney General, the judges handling my sister’s case, and to whom it may concern. Cases of this nature must be treated with the utmost urgency,” they pleaded.
Their appeal comes as Wednesday, November 5, 2025, marked what would have been Joana’s 22nd birthday — a day the family described as bittersweet, filled with grief instead of celebration.
In an emotional video statement, Joana’s sisters described the past eight months as a period of unbearable pain and frustration. They lamented the slow pace of the judicial process and the frequent adjournments that have stalled justice for their late sister.
“Today, instead of celebrating a future that was stolen, we are mourning the loss of our innocent sister. Her memory remains a light to us, yet also a source of deep sorrow as we continue to seek answers and, most importantly, justice,” one of her sisters said.
Joana Yabani, a final-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, was found dead around 5:00 a.m. on February 27, 2025, near the KNUST Disability and Rehabilitation Centre by campus security personnel.
She was allegedly strangled by a schoolmate believed to be her boyfriend, who remains in police custody as investigations continue.