From her early years in Konongo-Odumasi in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, Esther Ntumy Lartey learned that education was something to be fought for, not assumed. She grew up in a humble Christian home where resources were limited, but determination ran deep.
Her parents , Elder and Mrs.Lartey, worked tirelessly to keep all their seven children in school, even when circumstances made this difficult. Along the way, Ntumy Lartey received critical support from a sponsor, the late Apostle Dr. M. K. Ntumy, and his wife, Mrs. Martha Ntumy, who recognised her academic promise and chose to invest in her education.
“I was fortunate to have a helper who decided to support me, particularly in education,” she recalls. “They believed I was brilliant at the time, and that belief has stayed with me.”
Discovering a Passion for Teaching
Teaching came early to Ntumy Lartey. After completing secondary school, she entered teacher training college and graduated at just 19 years old. She began her professional career teaching in Kumasi, and within two years, she received the Ashanti Regional Best Teacher Award.
That recognition brought her into contact with Dr. A. A. Dramani, then the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, who encouraged her to pursue further studies.
“He saw potential in me and motivated me to continue climbing the academic ladder,” she says.
Teaching at the university had long been a personal goal. Through persistence and strong mentorship, she began lecturing at the university by the age of 28, earlier than she had originally imagined.
An Unexpected Path into Supply Chain Research
Ntumy Lartey later enrolled at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to study Supply Chain Management at the master’s level. As her studies progressed, she became increasingly interested in how supply chains shape organisational performance, sustainability, and decision-making. She began to notice gaps between theory and practice.
Encouraged by mentors, her academic ambitions grew, and she later enrolled in a PhD program at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
Research Grounded in Real Challenges
Ntumy Lartey’s doctoral research focuses on circular economy implementation within supply chains, examined through the lens of complex adaptive systems. Rather than viewing supply chains as linear processes, she studies them as dynamic networks of interacting actors whose behaviours evolve over time. Her work addresses a pressing practical challenge. Despite increasing pressure to adopt sustainable models, many organisations struggle to implement circular economy practices effectively, with success shaped as much by uncertainty, coordination, and adaptation as by technical or financial constraints.
The research is grounded in the plastic manufacturing sector, an industry that is central to Ghana’s economy yet deeply connected to environmental and waste management challenges. By focusing on this sector, her study addresses both local realities and global sustainability concerns.
Her findings highlight the importance of key system dynamics, adaptability, self-organisation, and co-evolution in shaping successful circular economy outcomes. Organisations that allow supply chain actors to learn, adjust, and collaborate flexibly are more likely to achieve sustained implementation.
“My motivation came from what companies are facing in reality,” she explains. “They want sustainable solutions, but the process is complex and uncertain.”
Beyond contributing to academic debates, her research offers practical insights for managers and policymakers, showing how system-aware and adaptive approaches can help bridge the gap between sustainability ambitions and real-world practice.
The CARISCA Experience
She first encountered CARISCA during her master’s studies at KNUST, when the centre was established on campus. She was immediately drawn to its mission of advancing supply chain research in Africa.
Years later, while pursuing her PhD, she reconnected with CARISCA. When she learned about the PhD Dissertation Award, she felt compelled to apply.
“The standards and expectations resonated with my training at GIMPA,” she says. “I felt I could compete.”
Participating in the CARISCA Research Summit proved both challenging and rewarding. Presenting her research before experienced scholars within a strict time limit tested her confidence, clarity, and preparation.
“The competition was intense, with strong candidates from across the continent, she confirms”.
Winning the 2025 CARISCA PhD Dissertation Award marked a defining milestone in her academic journey. Beyond the recognition, the award strengthened her confidence, expanded her professional network, and reinforced her commitment to impactful research.
Ntumy Lartey works with the Wisconsin University as a supply chain lecturer. Her institution sponsored her participation in the 2025 Supply Chain Research Summit.
Looking Ahead
Ntumy Lartey’s ambitions extend well beyond her doctoral work. She plans to establish a research and consulting platform that focuses on bridging the gap between theory and practice in supply chain management. She is also deeply committed to mentoring young scholars, particularly women who aspire to academic and research careers.
She believes that attitude, discipline, and mentorship matter just as much as technical expertise. “Someone believed in me before I fully believed in myself,” she reflects. “I want to pass that on.”
She attributes her success to the support of her husband, Rev. Martin Berko Kesse, and her son, Gideon Kesse, as well as the guidance of her academic mentor, Professor Ebenezer Adaku, the Vice Rector of GIMPA, and her chief supervisor, Dr. Daniel Gameti, whose insights and encouragement were invaluable throughout her PhD dissertation. She is also grateful to her other supervisors, Drs. Emmanuel Amikiya and Vivian Osei, whose mentorship played a key role in her journey.