Justina Nelson
The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Justina Nelson, has called for deeper gender inclusion, equity, and empowerment across Ghana’s mining value chain.
She said a more inclusive mining sector would not only advance gender equity but also boost productivity, innovation, and governance within the industry.
According to her, the push for inclusion must translate into systemic change—one that ensures women are not merely present in the sector but are fully empowered to lead, influence, and thrive.
Nelson made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 10th anniversary celebration of Women in Mining Ghana (WIM Ghana) in Accra.
She commended the organisation for a decade of “courage, resilience, and vision,” applauding its advocacy, leadership development initiatives, and efforts to create opportunities for women in a historically male-dominated industry.
“Your work has helped shape national perceptions, amplified women’s voices, challenged stereotypes, and opened doors that were once firmly shut,” she said, adding, “MIIF salutes you.”
Citing 2023 data from the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Nelson highlighted persistent gaps in women’s participation across the mining sector. According to the data, women account for about 9–10 per cent of the large-scale mining workforce, nine per cent of contractor employees, 10 per cent of junior-level roles, 14 per cent of senior positions, and 21 per cent of professional roles.
“These are interesting figures, but they are far from where we need to be,” she noted.
She outlined key challenges facing women in mining, including inequitable earnings, gender bias, and workplace harassment. Reflecting on her own experience since assuming office at MIIF earlier this year, Nelson said she had faced false publications and malicious attacks for standing firm on issues of principle.
“I stand here today not as a victim, but as a woman who refuses to be distracted. Let us hold and defend one another, for we are few at the top,” she told the gathering.
Nelson reaffirmed MIIF’s commitment to building an inclusive and progressive mining sector, highlighting the Women from Mining Communities (WoMCom) Scholarship Scheme. The initiative supports brilliant but financially disadvantaged female students pursuing STEM programmes.
She said more than 90 young women from the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa have already benefited from the scheme. MIIF, she added, plans to expand the programme to universities in the middle belt and northern Ghana in 2026, with support from corporate Ghana.
“Our goal is to ensure that women from mining communities are not left behind in Ghana’s mineral-driven transformation,” she said.
Nelson also commended corporate organisations for their support and expressed hope for sustained collaboration to uplift more women into the mining space as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts.
Meanwhile, MIIF reported significant improvements in Ghana’s mineral royalty inflows for 2025, reflecting strengthened regulatory compliance and growing investor confidence.
Key highlights for the first three quarters of 2025 include:
Large-scale gold mining: US$291.87 million in royalties, representing a 40.18 per cent increase over 2024
Mid-tier gold operations: GHC59.44 million, up 46.38 per cent
Manganese: US$12.75 million, a 170 per cent surge
Quarry industry: GHC13.15 million, a 13.12 per cent increase
Sand mining: GHC433,406.41, reflecting 21.48 per cent growth
“These figures underscore strong momentum in Ghana’s mineral revenue outlook,” Nelson stated.
She urged all stakeholders to work together to build a mining sector where women are respected, safe, visible, and empowered.
“As MIIF continues to secure Ghana’s mineral revenues, we stand ready to partner with Women in Mining Ghana to champion a future where gender does not limit potential,” she said.
Nelson congratulated WIM Ghana on its 10-year milestone and expressed optimism that the next decade would deliver even greater transformation for women in the mining industry.
