Accra, Dec. 15, – The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Mrs Justina Nelson, has renewed calls for stronger gender inclusion, equity and empowerment throughout Ghana’s mining value chain.
She said expanding women’s participation would not only promote fairness but also enhance productivity, innovation and governance within the mining sector.
Mrs Nelson stressed that inclusion must go beyond numerical representation, adding that women should be fully empowered to lead, influence decision-making and thrive in the industry.
She was speaking at the 10th anniversary celebration of Women in Mining Ghana (WIM Ghana) in Accra, where she praised the organisation for a decade of what she described as “courage, resilience and vision” in advocating for women in a traditionally male-dominated field.
“Your efforts have reshaped national perceptions, amplified women’s voices, challenged stereotypes and opened doors that were once firmly closed,” she said, adding that MIIF fully recognised and supported WIM Ghana’s work.
Citing 2023 data from the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Mrs Nelson pointed to persistent gender gaps in the sector. She noted that women constituted about nine to 10 per cent of the large-scale mining workforce, nine per cent of contractor staff, 10 per cent of junior-level roles, 14 per cent of senior positions and 21 per cent of professional roles.
“These numbers are noteworthy, but they are still far below where we ought to be,” she stated.
The MIIF CEO outlined ongoing challenges confronting women in mining, including pay disparities, gender bias and harassment. Drawing from her own experience since assuming office earlier this year, she said she had been subjected to false publications and malicious attacks for seeking to put issues in proper perspective.
“I stand here not as a victim, but as a woman who refuses to be distracted. We must support and defend one another, because women at the top remain few,” she said.
Mrs Nelson reaffirmed MIIF’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and forward-looking mining industry, highlighting the Women from Mining Communities (WoMCom) Scholarship Scheme, which supports academically gifted 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 had already benefited from the initiative.
According to her, MIIF plans to expand the scheme in 2026 to cover universities in the middle belt and northern parts of the country, with support from corporate Ghana and other partners.
“Our objective is to ensure that women from mining communities are not excluded from Ghana’s mineral-led transformation,” she said.
She commended corporate institutions for their support so far and urged them to deepen collaboration with MIIF as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility efforts to empower more women in the mining sector.
Mrs Nelson also reported notable improvements in mineral royalty inflows for 2025, attributing the gains to improved regulatory compliance and growing investor confidence.
She said figures for the first three quarters of 2025 showed that large-scale gold mining generated US$291.87 million in royalties, representing a 40.18 per cent increase over 2024, while mid-tier gold operations recorded GH₵59.44 million, a 46.38 per cent rise.
Manganese royalties increased by 170 per cent to US$12.75 million, quarry industry receipts rose by 13.12 per cent to GH₵13.15 million, and sand mining revenues grew by 21.48 per cent to GH₵433,406.41.
“These results point to strong momentum in Ghana’s mineral revenue outlook,” she said.
Mrs Nelson urged all stakeholders to work towards a mining sector where women are respected, protected, visible and empowered.
“As MIIF continues to safeguard Ghana’s mineral revenues, we remain committed to partnering Women in Mining Ghana to promote a future where gender does not constrain opportunity,” she added.
She congratulated WIM Ghana on its 10th anniversary and expressed optimism that the next decade would bring even greater progress for women in the industry.
GHBUSS
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