New Push for Women in Mining as MIIF, WIM Partner

The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and Women in Mining Ghana (WIM Ghana) have reaffirmed their commitment to promote women’s empowerment and gender inclusion in Ghana’s extractive sector through a strengthened strategic partnership.

This commitment was underscored during a courtesy visit by a high-level delegation from WIM Ghana to the Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, Mrs. Justina Nelson, at the Fund’s Head Office in Accra.

The meeting focused on identifying collaborative opportunities to expand women’s participation in the mining industry, with particular emphasis on leadership development, mentorship, and skills advancement.

The discussions also explored opportunities for joint outreach programmes, leadership summits, mentorship platforms, and strategic collaborations with mining companies, academic institutions, and international partners to scale up women-focused initiatives in the sector.

President of Women in Mining Ghana, Rosemary Oppong Kwasie, who led the delegation, emphasised the association’s renewed strategic focus on bridging the gender gap within the extractive sector.

She outlined several initiatives being pursued by WIM Ghana, including leadership forums, technical workshops, training programmes, and industry-focused seminars.

According to Ms. Oppong Kwasie, the association is also prioritising internship placements for female students, structured mentorship programmes, and research-driven advocacy to support policy development and create expanded career pathways for women.

“We see a strong need to focus on women and identify opportunities for collaboration that will promote both professional growth and economic advancement in the extractive sector,” she said.

In her response, Mrs. Justina Nelson welcomed the engagement and commended WIM Ghana for its sustained advocacy and leadership in promoting women’s participation in mining and related industries.

She acknowledged progress made over the years but stressed the need for more intentional efforts to increase female representation, especially in technical and managerial roles.

Mrs. Nelson disclosed that MIIF has already supported over 90 young women pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programmes in tertiary institutions within mining communities.

She noted that, building on the success of the initiative, the Fund plans to expand its support to additional universities across the country.

“Empowering women is critical to national development. We must continue to pursue deliberate policies and partnerships that enable women to thrive and assume leadership positions,” she stated.

Officials from both sides who contributed to the discussions acknowledged Ghana’s growing recognition as a leader in female participation in the mining sector within the sub-region.

However, they agreed that more work remains to be done to ensure women are adequately represented at executive and decision-making levels.

The upcoming Women in Mining Conference and Exhibition (WIMPEX), scheduled for October 2026, was also highlighted as a key platform to deepen awareness, expand membership, and inspire young women to pursue careers in mining and related industries.