CSIR-STEPRI gets first female director

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (CSIR-STEPRI) has unveiled Dr Wilhelmina Quaye as its first woman director for a five-year term.

She takes over from Dr George Owusu Essegbey who has completed his two five-year tenure as Director of the Institute.

The new director was formally introduced by the Director-General CSIR, Professor Victor Agyemang, at a staff dubar of CSIR-STEPRI in Accra.

Dr Quaye obtained her PhD in Rural Sociology from Wageningen University in the Netherlands in 2012.

She had her Master of Philosophy (2002) and Bachelor of Science (1993) in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ghana, Legon.

She also has a certificate in Gender Mainstreaming from the Institute of Capacity Development in South Africa and a certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Projects from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

She is an African Woman in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) fellow and Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for Sustainable Development and Relief Associates (SUDRA).

Inaugural address

Dr Quaye in her inaugural address said: “I am aware that we are in difficult times, particularly in times of no money from the government for the institute’s operations”.

She said that in spite of the challenging moments, they still had jobs and targets to meet.

“We still have to provide knowledge-based research results for the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes for socio-economic development on the basis of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI),” she said.

On her vision for CSIR-STEPRI, Dr Quaye said they needed to increase the donor inflows and internally generated funds (IGF) by two folds within five years – baseline of a little over $ 300,000 as of 2017.

Building strategic relationship

“We need to build strategic relationship with potential donors and connect to possible funding opportunities through our professional networks,” she said.

She pledged to continue in the effort to motivate and gain the support of all staff members of the institute as they worked towards improving STEPRI’s visibility and local relevance.

She encouraged the staff to have positive attitudes and get involved to build a better STEPRI.
“I look forward to working with you in our shared vision to make this place a healthier working place,” she said.
On her future direction, she pledged to continue in the legacy of her predecessor, Dr Essegbey, adding that “I deem myself as a product of his wise counsel and I do not take this lightly.”

Prof. Agyemang urged Dr Quaye to listen to the advice from people; having in mind that the final decision rested on her shoulders.

He also urged the staff of CSIR-STEPRI to give her their maximum support to enable her to execute her vision for the institute.

Leadership

He lauded Dr Essegbey, the former Director for his excellent and visionary leadership, which had propelled CSIR-STEPRI to another level.

He said the former Director, Dr Essegbey, was not on retirement and that he would continue to work at CSIR-STEPRI; stating that he deserved to be given the maximum respect and cooperation.

Dr Essegbey expressed his gratitude to God and the CSIR Council for giving him the opportunity to serve as the Director of CSIR-STEPRI.

He said the CSIR succession plan had enabled him to groom a crop of leaders during his tenure at the institute, out of which one of them emerged as his successor.

Dr Essegbey expressed his joy that he was handing over to a capable leader who would carry the institute to another level.

The new director is married to Mr David Sowah Quaye and they are blessed with a child.