PAC commends MIIF boss and finance director for integrity amid audit scandals
At a time when many government officials have come under fire for mismanagement and corruption during sittings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), one public servant stood out for the right reasons.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Mrs Justina Nelson, earned rare bipartisan praise from PAC Chairperson Abena Osei Asare and other members of Parliament for her honesty, competence, and reform-driven leadership during the Committee’s review of the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report on MIIF.
While recent PAC hearings have exposed widespread financial irregularities, procurement breaches, and missing funds across several state agencies, Mrs Nelson’s performance offered a refreshing contrast. She impressed lawmakers with her detailed understanding of financial procedures, transparency in addressing inherited audit issues, and commitment to strengthening MIIF’s governance structure.
“You came well prepared. You knew the figures, the laws, and what had been done or not done. I am not commending you because you are a woman, but because you are competent,” Ms Osei Asare remarked during the session.
Appearing with her senior management team, including the Chief Finance Officer, Head of Procurement, and Director of Internal Audit, Mrs Nelson outlined reforms introduced under her leadership — including the establishment of a Compliance Unit and a Risk Department to enforce accountability and prevent future audit infractions.
Addressing concerns over a US$3.8 million advance payment made before her appointment, Mrs Nelson admitted the transaction breached public finance regulations but clarified that it was inherited from the previous administration and has since been regularised, with the equipment now in use. She also reported that all outstanding royalties totalling GH¢29 million had been recovered, and unaccounted payments previously flagged by auditors were fully reconciled with supporting documents.
Mrs Nelson further revealed that MIIF’s 2023 gold trading pilot generated GH¢8 million before operations were transferred to the newly formed Gold Board, in line with legal reforms. She stressed that MIIF no longer uses restricted procurement for major contracts and now submits all procurement plans to the Ministry of Finance for prior approval.
Her calm but firm responses stood in sharp contrast to the defensive and evasive posture of many officials who have recently appeared before the PAC. Lawmakers from both sides of the House lauded her professionalism and urged her to sustain her reform agenda.
Mrs Nelson reaffirmed MIIF’s dedication to transparency, teamwork, and prudent management of Ghana’s mineral income, saying her priority is to build a credible and efficient institution that Ghanaians can trust.
The session ended with members of the Committee calling her leadership a model for public sector accountability, a rare commendation in a season where most PAC appearances have exposed staggering levels of mismanagement and corruption.
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