The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) has initiated a strategic partnership with Ghana’s leading media outlet, Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL), to broaden its stakeholder communication and reinforce its commitment to transparency and accountability.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, Mrs. Justina Nelson, on March 26, led a high-level delegation to meet with GCGL’s Managing Director, Mr. Ato Afful, and his top management team to discuss mutual interests and collaborative opportunities.

Mr. Ato Afful, MD Graphic Communications Group Ltd, welcomes Mrs. Justina Nelson, acting CEO of MIIF to Graphic.

As the first female CEO of MIIF, Mrs. Nelson articulated the fund’s core objectives and her strategic vision for maximizing royalty collection from mining companies.

She highlighted the Fund’s collaborative approach, working closely with key state agencies including:

– Minerals Commission

– Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)

– Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO)

– National Investigative Board

Mr. Theophilus Yartey, Editor, Graphic, exchange pleasantries with Mrs. Justina Nelson during the visit.

The primary goal of these partnerships, Mrs. Nelson said, is to ensure comprehensive revenue collection that can be channeled toward accelerating Ghana’s national development agenda.

She said MIIF has already made significant strategic investments in four entities: Electrochem;   Injaro; Atlantic Lithium, and Asante Gold.

The Executive Team from MIIF and Graphic holding discussions during the visit.

Of the four, she has already undertaken a working visit to two, Electrochem, and Injaro, to appreciate their operations while discussing, in-depth, issues regarding their financials.

Mrs. Nelson said the Fund is planning additional company visits in the coming weeks to further solidify its investment portfolio and engagement strategy.

Regarding the Fund’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) drive, Mrs. Nelson said a notable initiative of MIIF was the Women from Mining Communities (MIIF-WoMCoM) scholarship programme. This corporate social responsibility project aims to:

– Address gender disparities in STEM education

– Support female students from mining communities

– Provide educational opportunities at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT)

The recent application cycle (January 16 to February 7, 2025) yielded impressive results receiving a total application of 104.

Mrs. Nelson pledged the commitment of MIIF to ensure that the selection process for scholarship awardees is done equitably and in a very transparent and accountable manner.

Mr. Ato Afful, Managing Director of GCGL, expressed strong support for MIIF’s mandate. He emphasized the critical importance of ensuring that mining royalties are collected efficiently and used to benefit the country.

Mr. Afful also extended his best wishes to Mrs. Nelson, expressing confidence in her ability to leverage her years of corporate experience to advance MIIF’s objectives.

The collaboration between MIIF and GCGL represents a significant step toward enhanced transparency, stakeholder communication, and strategic development in Ghana’s mining sector.

To achieve this, the Fund plans to closely monitor these companies to ensure they adhere to their agreements with MIIF, maintain good corporate governance practices, and pursue ventures that benefit the country.

Mr. Jerry Parkes, briefing Mrs. Justina Nelson and her team during the working visit.

Mrs. Justina Nelson, Acting Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, made these remarks during a working visit to Injaro Investment Advisors Limited. The visit was part of a planned initiative to familiarize herself with the operations of all MIIF-invested companies.

Mrs. Justina Nelson (3rd from left) in a group photo with management and staff of Zeepay.

The visit also provided an opportunity for Mrs. Nelson to observe firsthand the companies in Injaro’s portfolio, which focuses on growing indigenous Ghanaian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These companies include:

-Zeepay: A well-established fintech providing digital termination of remittances, mobile money, and mobile payment services.
-Kofa Technologies Limited: Owner and manager of battery swapping infrastructure consisting of multi-use swappable batteries and swapping stations offering customers immediate access to fully charged batteries.
-DDP Outdoor Ltd: An out-of-home advertising company operating 1,500 advertising faces across Ghana.

Mr. Dela Kumahor, Vice President – Product Development at Kofa, demonstrating how the motorbikes work to Mrs. Justina Nelson and her team.

During the tour, which included several executive members, Mrs. Nelson urged the managers of the visited companies to reduce operational costs to generate appropriate profits and pay dividends to the Fund.

She also encouraged the companies to invest in the entire mining value chain, ensuring that communities where minerals are mined benefit through development initiatives and job creation.

Mr. Jerry Parkes, Chief Executive Officer of Injaro, congratulated Mrs. Nelson on her appointment as acting CEO of MIIF and committed to continued collaboration between the two institutions to elevate their partnership to the next level.

Mrs. Justina Nelson (middle) flanked by Mr. Jerry Parkes (right) and Mr. Senah Vuley, General Manager, DDP Outdoor, after the official working visit.

He stated that Injaro will continue supporting SMEs in Ghana to help them fully leverage opportunities presented by the government’s 24-hour economic policy.

Mr. Parkes emphasized that one of the company’s strategies is to invest in local companies, which helps retain profits within Ghana and prevents capital flight. He requested additional support from MIIF to enable Injaro to expand its assistance to SMEs nationwide.

During the visit, the management teams from Zeepay, Kofa, and DDP each provided comprehensive overviews of their business operations and pledged commitment to not only protecting MIIF’s investments but growing them to provide the government with additional funds for national development.

Each company outlined aggressive strategies to grow their businesses, increase profits, and pay appropriate dividends to MIIF.

The acting Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Mrs. Justina Nelson today (March 19), led a delegation from the Fund to pay a courtesy call on the management of Electrochem Ghana Limited, one of the largest salt mining firms in Africa.

Mrs. Justina Nelson (seated right) is being briefed about the operations of Electrochem at the Boardroom.

The visit was to afford her the opportunity to appreciate the operations of the salt mining company, undertake a comprehensive site tour, and to appreciate how the company was doing.

It also offered her the opportunity to discuss the viability of the project and how management was utilizing MIIF’s equity investment.

Mr. Daniel McKorley (2nd from right) with Mrs. Justina Nelson, acting CEO of MIIF (2nd from left) and Mr. Kwaku Ampromfi (left) during the site visits.

During the meetings, Mrs. Nelson pledged the commitment of the Fund to ensure that the $30 million equity stake of MIIF in Electrochem yields the needed returns.

She said per the mandate of the Fund, which is meant to, among other things, collect dividends and royalties from mining companies and invest on behalf of the State, MIIF will do all it can to jealously protect its equity stake in the company for the good people of Ghana.

She further gave the assurance that all efforts will be made to ensure that, companies in which MIIF has equity shares are successful.

Mrs. Justina Nelson (right), acting CEO of MIIF, interacting with one of the female employees of Electrochem on site.

Mrs. Nelson, in her observations after the tour, expressed delight at the project and noted that the potential of Electrochem was bright and promising.

She urged the management of the company to adhere strictly to good corporate governance standards, continuously improve its relations with the community and ensure industrial harmony.

The Chairman of McDan Group of Companies, Mr. Daniel McKorley, described the potential of the salt project as big, adding that it will rake in more revenue to the State than cocoa and gold combined.

Mrs. Justina Nelson (right) having a look at the raw salt.

He said the company was working around the clock to ensure that it constantly improves operational efficiency as part of a cost reduction and profit optimization measure.

Mr. McKorley said Electrochem looks forward to more capital injections from shareholders into the operations of the business to enable it to complete the next phases of the multi-million-dollar project.

The Group CEO of McDan Group, Mr. Kwamu Ampromfi, said it is the vision of the company to build Ghana’s Next Industrial Hub.

Mrs. Justina Nelson (left) with Mr. Daniel McKorley.

“Electrochem, Africa’s largest salt mine, is on a transformative journey to establish Ada-Sege as an industrial powerhouse, surpassing Tema in scale and impact.  

Electrochem’s immediate plans include completing the installation of a state-of-the-art fully automated salt refinery and an ultra-modern caustic soda plant,” he added.  

Mr. Ampromfi said as the company moves towards delivering one million tonnes, its short-term plan is to build an AI and robotics-driven port in Ada that exceeds the highest standards for maritime and port operations. 

“We will develop a multi-billion-dollar industrial hub that will revolutionize Ghana’s industrial landscape that serves the salt industry for all investors who seek to use salt as a raw product or create salt derivatives and products on large and medium commercial scale. 

In the medium term, we will build a salt and marine chemicals research institute that will create centres of excellence and laboratories, and that will be a global leader in research and innovation,” he added.

He said Electrochem is pleased to accomplish these exploits with MIIF.


Mr. Ampromfi said salt is the mineral of destiny for Ghana in generating massive returns that dwarfs revenues from gold and cocoa.  

“MIIF is Electrochem’s long-term partner in maximizing Ghana’s income from salt and other salt derivatives, in the most sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.

We count on MIIF to help provide the needed government and sovereign fund support through market expansion, strategic direction, influencing policy that promotes businesses, inject capital and attract other co-investors, provide investment guarantees, risk share, access to new markets and networks, provide advisory services and board representation, and develop infrastructure and ecosystems,” he noted.   

He also hinted that the company has completed its prospectus awaiting the composition of the MIIF Board to be able to seek approval in preparation to list on the local bourse, the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE).

The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, today (March 13, 2025) met with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of specified State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra.

President Mahama addressing the CEOs.

President John Dramani Mahama (left) flanked by Prof. Michael Kpessah-Whyte (middle), Director General of the State Interest Governance Authority and Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Finance Minister.

President Mahama further warned that “the era of impunity, mediocrity, and financial recklessness must end today.”

He also indicated that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.

According to President Mahama, the meeting was not just a forum for discussion but a decisive call to action, demanding bold leadership, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to excellence from SOE Executives.

“This meeting reaffirms my commitment to shaking up loss-making SOEs and realigning them to break even and transition into profitability. My 2024 campaign promises and the 120-day social contract with the people of Ghana were not mere rhetoric,” he stated.

A cross-section of the CEOs in the meeting. Among them is Mrs. Justina Nelson, acting Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).

President Mahama buttressed his point with the 2023 State Ownership Report produced by SIGA, which highlighted inefficiencies plaguing SOEs, necessitating decisive action.

According to him, many specified entities have operated inefficiently for too long, weighed down by waste, underperformance, conflicts of interest, and a lack of national interest alignment.

“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The Chief Executives, Management, and Boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation.

Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he added.

Finance Minister, Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, said with the right measures and commitment, the CEOs will turn around the complex situations.

Mr. Henry C. Onwuzurigbo, on his part, expressed the commitment of Zenith Bank (Ghana) Limited to further strengthen the cordial relations between the Bank and MIIF.

The Zenith Bank Group team with Mrs Justina Nelson (3rd from left).

He also wished Mrs. Nelson well, adding that Zenith Bank will continue to lend its support to the Fund.
Mrs. Nelson, in her response, expressed gratitude to Mrs. Umeoji and her delegation for the visit.
She said she was inspired by the high-level visit and pledged her commitment to leveraging her rich experience in handling various portfolios to help transform the Fund to achieve its vision.

There is a common quote, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”

This was a quote by a renowned Ghanaian scholar, Dr. James Emmanuel Kwegyir-Aggrey, many decades ago but which still rings a bell today and always will.

Against this background, the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), as part of the 2025 International Women’s Day Celebrations, organized an insightful thought-leadership engagement on Friday 7th March 2025.

The event which took place in the MIIF Boardroom, was on the theme; “For All Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” and brought together the assiduous and visionary women of the Fund who work around the clock to maximize the royalties from the nation’s mineral resources.

It was an insightful conversation that came with a clear call to action to support women in deed and not just in words.

Mrs. Justina Nelson, CEO of MIIF, opened the event by expressing her delight at the opportunity to mark this year’s International Women’s Day at such a pivotal moment in the country’s history.

“At MIIF, our commitment to gender equality goes beyond words—we believe true empowerment comes through education, economic opportunities, and strong support systems,” she said.

Mrs. Nelson, who is also the first woman CEO of MIIF, further mentioned the MIIF Women from Mining Communities (WoMCom) scholarship scheme, which was launched in June 2024, and said the scheme is helping to transform the lives of young women from mining communities.

She added that the first batch of 41 awardees for the 2024/2025 academic year was disbursed last year adding that, efforts are underway for the next batch.

She emphasized that, “Empowering women and girls is not just a moral obligation—it is an economic imperative.”

The keynote speaker for the event was Mrs. Georgette Barnes Sakyi-Addo, an accomplished mining executive, whose career spans over 3 decades. She is the founder and current President of Women in Mining Ghana.

Using practical stories to illustrate her points, Mrs. Sakyi-Addo touched on the many challenges women in the mining industry in particular face including discrimination.

She lauded the CEO of MIIF for her appointment to lead the Fund and charged the MIIF women to continue to lend their support to make her succeed in fulfilling the mandate of the Fund.

She also used the opportunity to stress the need for visibility of women in the mining space, emphasizing the importance of MIIF’s Women from Mining Communities (WoMCoM) scholarship scheme to the development of women in Ghana.

She noted that, “If you bring a female leader down, you’re bringing yourself down, because there are not many of them.”

The programme closed with Mrs. Sakyi-Addo presenting a special report on Gender in Mining, authored by Women in Mining Ghana, to Mrs. Nelson.