MIIF CEO Justina Nelson celebrates Homowo with Ga Mashie Community

The Minerals Income Investment Fund (“MIIF” or the “Fund”) joined the people of Ga Mashie to celebrate this year’s Homowo Festival in Accra at the weekend.

Led by the Chief Executive Officer of the Fund, Mrs Justina Nelson, the move forms part of efforts by MIIF to show respect to the gods and people of the land on which some of the country’s mineral wealth are found and join in prayers for bountiful harvest.

Mrs. Justina Nelson (third from right) and Manye Naa Amorkor Shikafutru I (third from left) enjoying the cultural performances.

For MIIF, this wasn’t merely a ceremonial appearance. The Fund’s participation represented a deeper recognition of the sacred bond between Ghana’s mineral wealth and the ancestral lands from which it springs.

Mrs. Justina Nelson (second from right) shaking hands with Manye Naa Amorkor Shikafutru I (second from left) as she welcomes her to the programme.

As Mrs. Nelson and her team joined the festivities, they carried with them the reverence due to the chiefs, traditional rulers, and people of the Ga State, acknowledging that the nation’s prosperity flows from these very soils.

The celebration was hosted by Naa Amorkor Shikafutru I, Asere Amartse-We Manye, known in her private life as Ms Mariam Amartey.

A cultural troupe performing on the night.

Mrs Nelson’s presence lent dignity to an already magnificent gathering that drew dignitaries from across society, including Graphic Editor Mr. Theophilus Yartey, all united in this timeless tradition.

At the heart of the ceremony stood the three most powerful spiritual guardians of the Ga State: Numo Akwaa Mensah III, Naewolomo; Numo Ogbarmey III, Sakumo Wolomo; and Numo Coblah Ayitey III, High Priest of Ga, Gbese and Korle Stools Lands.

Numo Akwaa Mensah III pouring libation before the start of the celebration.

Their presence transformed the gathering into something sacred, a bridge between the earthly and the divine.

The crowd, adorned in the traditional red and white of the festival, fell silent as the priests began the ancient ritual of libation. The sacred drinks touched the ground as prayers rose skyward—appeals for peace to reign among the people, for unity to strengthen their bonds, and for divine guidance and protection to shelter them in the year ahead.

A cultural troupe performing a typical Ga dance.

The words of Numo Coblah Ayitey III, who addressed the gathering, carried the weight of ancestral wisdom.

He spoke directly to the youth, his voice both gentle and firm as he urged them toward steadfastness and purpose.

“Let your actions bring glory not only to yourselves, but to our beloved Ga State and Ghana as a whole,” he said.

His call for unity resonated through the crowd, accompanied by earnest appeals to the youth to be industrious and reject social vices that could dim their bright futures.

As his words settled over the assembly, the ceremony transformed into a spectacular celebration of culture.

Youth groups took center stage, their bodies moving in perfect synchronization as they performed formation dances passed down through generations.

Every step, every gesture told stories of heritage and hope, while well-choreographed cultural displays painted vivid pictures of the revered Ga tradition.

The crowd responded with spontaneous applause, their appreciation echoing across the ceremonial grounds.

The young performers, their faces glowing with pride and tradition, had successfully bridged the gap between past and future, showing that the spirit of Homowo burns as brightly today as it did for their ancestors.

For MIIF, this celebration represented more than cultural appreciation as it embodied the Fund’s commitment to honouring the communities whose lands contribute to Ghana’s mineral wealth.

As the festivities continued, the Fund’s presence served as a testament to the belief that true prosperity must be rooted in respect for tradition, community, and the sacred bonds that tie Ghana’s people to their ancestral home.