The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has inducted Mrs Phyllis Nketia, as its new Director of Administration.
The induction ceremony was held alongside the CSIR’s Thanksgiving Service held at the forecourt of the CSIR–Water Research Institute (WRI) in Accra.
Mrs Nketia outlined a bold transformation agenda for the institution.
She said her vision was to reposition CSIR’s administrative function as a strategic pillar supporting scientific excellence, institutional sustainability and national development.
Addressing management, staff and invited guests, she said she was assuming office with “profound gratitude, humility and a deep sense of duty,” noting that administration must play a decisive role in enabling research outcomes that effectively respond to Ghana’s development needs.
She paid tribute to her predecessor, Mrs Genevieve Yankey, acknowledging her “guidance, support and direction” during her years of service at the CSIR Head Office.
Building on that foundation, Mrs Nketia noted that CSIR occupied a critical place in Ghana’s national development architecture, with scientists and researchers producing innovations and technologies that prioritise and address national challenges.
“My role, and indeed the role of administration, is to ensure that this critical work is supported by strong systems, responsive structures, ethical governance and a motivated workforce,” she stated.
She explained that her vision sought to reposition administration “not merely as a support service, but as a strategic force that enables research excellence, institutional sustainability and organisational pride.”
Mrs Nketia outlined a four‑pillar administrative reform agenda anchored on administration as a strategic enabler, operational excellence as a culture, employee welfare as a priority and proactive change management as a leadership imperative.
Expanding on the first pillar, she said the administrative function would be deliberately aligned with the CSIR Strategic Plan, the CSIR Act 521 and the Council’s corporate governance framework.
Administration, she noted, must move beyond routine transactional roles to become “an active partner in achieving the Council’s mandate.”
She added that administration would support leadership with timely data, sound advice and effective coordination, explaining that reducing avoidable administrative bottlenecks would allow scientists to focus on “impactful, demand‑driven research for national development.”
Turning to operational excellence, she said this would be a defining feature of her tenure. Systems would be strengthened to enhance efficiency, transparency, responsiveness and accountability, including the improved integration of human resource management and information technology, and the effective utilisation of national platforms such as HRMIS and GIFMIS.
“Operational excellence is not a one‑time achievement; it is a culture,” she emphasised.
“It requires discipline, continuous improvement and a shared commitment to doing things right the first time.
On employee welfare, Mrs Nketia described staff as CSIR’s greatest asset and pledged strong advocacy for improved morale, inclusive workplace practices and strengthened welfare systems. She said structures such as the Counselling Unit and the Gender Desk would be enhanced, alongside sustained investment in capacity building and professional development
Addressing the final pillar of change management, she noted that administrative leadership must be agile and forward‑looking. “Change is inevitable, but progress is a choice,” she said, stressing the need to anticipate trends, embrace innovation and manage transitions in a structured and inclusive manner.
The induction ceremony formed part of the 11th CSIR non‑denominational Thanksgiving Service, hosted by the CSIR–Water Research Institute (WRI).
Delivering a welcome address on behalf of the Director of WRI and the Dean of Directors, Dr (Mrs) Ruby Asmah, the Deputy Director of the Institute, described the occasion as one of gratitude, reflection and renewal.
She noted that the Thanksgiving Service provided an opportunity to acknowledge “how far the Lord has brought the Institution,” emphasising that CSIR’s progress had been achieved through perseverance, collective effort and committed leadership.
“As a research institution, we are used to analysing data, measuring outputs and projecting outcomes,” she said.
“But today reminds us that beyond numbers and reports, gratitude remains one of the most powerful resources.”
Dr Asmah expressed appreciation to the CSIR Board of Directors, management, directors of the various CSIR institutes, invited guests and staff, describing CSIR as a family bound by shared purpose and institutional pride.
As part of the Thanksgiving activities, an offering was taken to support the Korle‑Bu Cardiothoracic and Dialysis Centre.
A minute of silence was then observed in honour of departed CSIR staff, followed by prayers for their families, for national peace and development, and for the continued success of CSIR and its partners.
The formal induction of Mrs Nketia was conducted in the second part of the event, during which she was led by the Director‑General of CSIR, Prof Paul Bosu, to take the oath of office.
Delivering the sermon at the Thanksgiving Service, Rev. Fr Samuel Filton‑Mensah of St James Catholic Church, Osu‑Re, urged staff to reject all forms of discrimination and to embrace gratitude, humility and service to the common good.
He cautioned against attitudes of superiority and exclusion within institutions, stressing that leadership and professional expertise must always be exercised in the service of humanity.
Rev. Fr Filton‑Mensah urged the staff to recognise their collective responsibility to reduce human suffering, create opportunities for others and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Mrs Nketia reaffirmed her commitment to collaborative leadership and institutional excellence.
“My vision is about building an administrative system that works for the people, supports science and strengthens the institution,” she said.
She expressed appreciation to the management and staff for their consistent support and confidence in her.
She said she believed that together, they could strengthen CSIR’s legacy as Ghana’s premier research institution and ensure that administrative systems matched the excellence of its scientific output.