Remembering Dr Alhassan Jinbaani

Dr Alhassan Jinbaani died two months before he was due to graduate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) with a PhD in Agricultural Economics.

Ghanaian born, Dr Jinbaani, died from multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. 

Dr Jinbaani spent more than 20 years as a scientist championing food security in Ghana. He was an agricultural economist at the West African country’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI), where he spent his entire professional career.

The last born of nine siblings in a household in which farming was part of life, Dr Jinbaani believed that education and hard work presented a solution for his family. He was the only child who continued his education to a tertiary level. His mother, who played a crucial role in motivating him to combine farming with his education. She died while he was in high school. He continued to support many of his family members until his unexpected passing.

From northern Ghana, Dr Jinbaani attended Wa Senior High Technical School and Damongo Agricultural College. He worked for a short time at a bank before joining CSIR-SARI, where he and his colleagues contributed to the release of 75 improved varieties of crops to hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers in northern Ghana. They enhanced agricultural productivity while prioritising environmental health.

He funded his own undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the University for Development Studies in Ghana. This was paid for in part by his work as a shoe-shiner and selling chickens.

Dr Jinbaani also attended six intensive months of training on land restoration at the University of Iceland and the United Nations University in 2016.

Pursuing his PhD later in his career, he chose UKZN because of its excellent reputation in Agricultural Sciences.

“His passion and love for humanity can soar through his research work at this university,” said his wife, Ruby Jinbaani.

Dr Jinbaani explored the role of Ghana’s Fertiliser Subsidy Program (GFSP) in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing household food security. Using nationally representative data and econometric analysis, he addressed three key areas: the impact of fertiliser subsidies on the adoption of sustainable intensification technologies, their contribution to food security resilience, and the complementarity between fertiliser use and integrated soil fertility management practices. His findings underscored the importance of input support policies in strengthening smallholder productivity and food security.

His supervisor, Professor Edilegnaw Wale Zegeye, spoke of his shock at Dr Jinbaani’s death only weeks after the final version of his thesis was submitted. 

“Alhassan was a very dedicated and committed man with many desirable attributes, not only as a student but also as a human being. He was a man of God, humble and hardworking,” said Professor Zegeye.

“It is heartbreaking that he is no more. His work ethic and professionalism were second to none. Once he commits, he will make sure to get it done. Despite his health challenges, he was determined to complete his PhD on a topic of significant policy interest in Ghana and beyond. It was a great privilege to work with him. May his soul rest in peace!”

Dr Jinbaani is survived by his wife and three children.