Combining motherhood with corporate work

As Ghana joins the rest of the world to celebrate Mother’s Day, The Mirror (TM) sat with Mrs Justina Nelson (JN), the first female Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), to discuss motherhood, leadership, institutional reform, performance milestones and her commitment to empowering women and girls in mining communities as a mother.

In this exclusive interview, she reflects on her journey, achievements, the influence of motherhood on her leadership and why investing in women and girls is not just a moral imperative, but a strategic national priority.

TM: Can you tell us about yourself?

JN: Thank you very much for this opportunity. I must say that I am honoured to serve as the first female Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).

It is a privilege to lead an institution established to serve as a strategic lever for maximising the value-creation potential of Ghana’s mining sector for sustainable national development, pursuant to the Minerals Income Investment Fund Act, 2018 (Act 978), as amended.

I am an accomplished banking executive with over 23 years of experience in the financial services industry, including 19 years with Zenith Bank (Ghana) Limited.

Throughout my career, I developed extensive expertise in operational management, strategic marketing, credit administration and corporate leadership, guided by the values of motherhood.

Prior to my current role, I held several senior leadership positions at Zenith Bank, serving as Operations Head, Branch Head, Group Head and later Zonal Head, where I supervised commercial and energy sector portfolios as well as branches across Accra, the Eastern Region and the Volta Region.

Despite the demands of being a mother and a corporate executive, I still managed to enhance my professional capabilities through specialised leadership, finance and credit programmes in Ghana and Nigeria.

Academically, I hold a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Corporate and Commercial Law – University of Ghana; a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing – University of Ghana; a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B. Hons) – Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA); Bachelor of Arts (B.A. Hons) in Management and Psychology – University of Ghana.

These experiences have shaped my leadership philosophy. It has made me more disciplined, accountable, reform-driven and impact-focused.

TM: Since assuming office, what are some of your major achievements?

JN: There are several, but let me highlight a few that reflect the direction I am charting at the MIIF.

As a mother, one of the values you learn very quickly is that leadership is not only about giving instructions; it is about nurturing people, creating structure, being firm when necessary and ensuring that everyone has the support they need to succeed. I have brought that same mindset into my work at MIIF.

We continue to collaborate closely with key state institutions such as the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Minerals Commission to strengthen compliance enforcement and optimise collections.

Institutionally, upon assuming office, I initiated significant governance and structural reforms because, like a mother managing a home, you must put the right systems in place to ensure sustainability, discipline and accountability.

I have decoupled Compliance from Legal and integrated Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards into our compliance framework to ensure investee companies adhere strictly to sustainability principles.

I have revitalised our near-dormant Risk Department through strategic recruitment and structural strengthening. Today, every department, for the first time since the Fund was established, has a Risk Register which helps to guide their activities as an early warning mechanism to prevent actions that can go against the Fund.

I have enhanced audit independence by working with the Internal Audit Agency to second an auditor to the Fund.

I have led all departments to update policies and strategic frameworks to align with our renewed mandate and performance objectives.

Regarding our performance on royalty inflows, MIIF recorded GH₵5.43 billion in mineral royalty receipts in 2025, the highest since inception, up from GH₵4.9 billion in 2024.

This growth was driven by intensified nationwide monitoring to enforce compliance among others. On profitability, the institution performed well and the results will be made public in due course.

Today, operations are more streamlined, risk management is robust, accountability structures are stronger and the institution has a clearer strategic direction.
Internally,

I prioritised staff engagement and excellence because I believe people perform best when they feel valued, heard and supported.

We instituted quarterly staff forums to promote collaboration and innovation, culminating in performance awards at the end of 2025 to recognise outstanding contributions across departments.

As a mother, I listen. So, we have strengthened our stakeholder engagements in a strategic way. This year alone, I met with editors and senior journalists. I have also met with civil society organisations and think-tanks.

I have undertaken field visits to investee companies and to other mining companies. I have listened to them, and collectively, we will work together to ensure that the mandate of MIIF is executed to create value from our mineral wealth for present and future generations. 

Collectively, these milestones represent deliberate efforts to build a stronger, more transparent, accountable and impact-driven MIIF, while also creating a culture where people can grow and thrive like a home where mothers nurture a family.

TM: As we mark Mother’s Day, what message would you like to share?

JN: As we mark Mother’s Day, I would like to celebrate and honour mothers everywhere for their sacrifices, resilience, love and dedication.

Motherhood has significantly shaped the way I lead and work. Being a mother teaches patience, sacrifice, empathy, discipline and the ability to think beyond yourself. These same values influence how I manage people, make decisions and lead MIIF.

As a mother, I understand the importance of creating opportunities for the next generation, especially for young girls who may not always have access to the support, encouragement and resources they need to pursue their dreams.

That is why initiatives such as the Women from Mining Communities Scholarship Scheme (WoMCom) are so close to my heart. I see these young women not just as beneficiaries of a scholarship programme, but as daughters, future leaders, innovators and change-makers.

Using that motherly instinct to nurture, support and uplift, we have deliberately invested in helping girls from mining communities pursue STEM education at the tertiary level, because we believe they deserve the same opportunities as everyone else.

At MIIF, we recognise the critical role women and mothers play in building stronger communities, particularly in mining areas where many women carry the burden of caring for families while striving to improve their livelihoods.

Through initiatives such as WoMCom, we are committed to supporting young women and empowering future mothers, professionals and leaders who will contribute meaningfully to national development.

So, on this special occasion, I also wish to encourage Corporate Ghana to continue investing in women and girls through education, mentorship and economic empowerment initiatives.

When we support women, we support families. When we support families, we strengthen communities and nations.

Finally, I would like to encourage all women, especially young women and mothers, with this message: “Success becomes possible the moment you set your mind firmly on achieving it.”

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers and mother figures.