Our Project | PHd Students | Cohort 1
Nkabom PhD program brings together young researchers committed to transforming Ghana’s agri-food and nutrition ecosystem. These scholars are gaining practical and academic skills to tackle real-world challenges.Â
Sadat Gyimah
PhD in Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture
Sadat is a dedicated academic with experience as a Teaching and Graduate Assistant at KNUST. He’s contributed to major research projects focused on improving meat quality and sustainability using bioactive-rich fruit by-products. His interest lies in antimicrobial resistance mitigation and enhancing meat safety through practical solutions for farmers and processors. The Nkabom Collaborative PhD program aligns with his goal of becoming a leading researcher, capable of shaping policy and practice in sustainable meat production and food safety.
Philomina Nana Kissiwaa Amofah
PhD in Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture
Philomina is a multidisciplinary food and public health professional with degrees in Nutrition, Biochemistry, Public Health, and Food Science. She also runs Greenna Solutions, a social enterprise promoting agro-processing and waste management. Her focus is on improving nutrition outcomes through sustainable, locally sourced food solutions. This PhD will enable her to develop evidence-based strategies to combat micronutrient deficiencies and influence policy for healthier, more resilient food systems.
Mary-Anne Aforley Mensah Laryea
PhD in Sustainable Food Systems
With a background in Agribusiness and hands-on experience in traceability systems at ECOM Agroindustrial, Mary-Anne is committed to strengthening food systems and agricultural value chains. She is passionate about food security, climate resilience, and community development through mentorship and innovation. Her doctoral studies are a critical step toward building sustainable food systems solutions and advancing her leadership in the agri-food sector.
Mr. William Ofori Appaw
PhD in Sustainable Food Systems
William is a multidisciplinary scientist specializing in mycotoxin analysis, food safety, and One Health approaches to environmental health. At KNUST, he leads research on AI/ML-powered, non-destructive tools for detecting food toxins in resource-limited settings. His expertise includes exposure assessment, risk management, and applying big data and computational modeling to support food safety and public health policy. William is skilled in LC-based analytical techniques and is a certified ISO 17025:2017 Lead Auditor. He is passionate about translating science into policy, aiming to strengthen food systems through innovation, capacity building, and integrated strategies for early hazard detection and nutrition-focused interventions.
Prince Akwasi Sasu Buckman
PhD in Packaging Science
Dr. Buckman is an experienced researcher and educator in animal nutrition, with over a decade in academia and industry. His work now focuses on biodegradable packaging technologies for meat preservation. He is driven by the need to reduce plastic pollution and improve food safety through biopolymer nanofilms using locally available materials. This PhD program directly supports his ambition to become a pioneer in sustainable food preservation and policy innovation, aligned with SDGs 12 and 14.
Enoch Aryeetey
PhD in Nutrition and Nutrigenomics
Enoch, a food scientist with strong research and entrepreneurial experience, works as an Assistant Research Scientist at CSIR-Food Research Institute. He also founded NexGen FPS, a startup creating locally sourced food products. His research interest lies in functional foods that promote gut health and address malnutrition. The PhD program will deepen his expertise in nutrigenomics and sustainability, equipping him to create culturally relevant, validated food solutions for Africa’s health challenges.
Mohammed Maahi
PhD in Entrepreneurship
Mohammed brings 14 years of experience in SME development, coaching, and training across national and international projects. He currently a project officer at the Health Entrepreneurship Pillar under the Mastercard Foundation/KNUST Africa Health Collaborative. His interest is in developing robust business ecosystems for youth and entrepreneurs in Ghana. Through this PhD program, he seeks to blend research with practice to design effective entrepreneurial strategies, advancing policy and innovation in the agri-business sector.
Gifty Afi Cudjoe
PhD in Entrepreneurship
Gifty is a certified Project Management Professional with over a decade’s experience empowering youth and women through entrepreneurship and skills development. She has contributed to major projects with GIZ, SNV, and JICA. She is passionate about rural development and green entrepreneurship, particularly among women and youth. This PhD program offers her the platform to generate research-driven solutions that promote inclusive economic growth and contribute to the broader entrepreneurship knowledge base.