MIIF turmoil: Asiedu Nketia leaves after rift with CEO

The son of the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Kwaku Asiedu-Nketia Jr., has abandoned his role as the deputy chief executive officer of the Mineral Income and Investment Fund (MIIF) following an alleged misunderstanding between him and the CEO of MIIF, Justina Nelson, over her leadership style at the fund.

Although Dr Asiedu Nketiah Jr’s name remains on the MIIF website, checks indicate that he is no longer involved in the fund’s management, and during his absence, all payments made to him by the fund have been returned.

Leadership crisis

What began as a leadership change at the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) has now escalated into one of the most dramatic internal upheavals in the institution’s history.

Since the arrival of the new CEO, Mrs. Justina Nelson, in January 2025, MIIF has been engulfed in a whirlwind of fear, firings, resignations, and deep institutional fracture, culminating in a mass exodus that has gutted the Fund’s core workforce.

This turmoil comes at the very moment MIIF has been publicly exposed for attempting to rewrite its already signed audited financial statements, an action the Auditor-General has strongly condemned as “improper.” But within the Fund, long before the controversy reached the public, staff saw the storm forming.

According to many former MIIF employees, anyone who openly disagreed with her narrative of mismanagement or challenged its accuracy quickly became a target. Firings and forced resignations began quietly but swiftly. Professional disagreement became dangerous.

Many staff members, unwilling to compromise their integrity, refused to endorse what they believed was a deliberately false narrative. MIIF’s institutional brain trust began to empty.

Among those who have resigned or been fired are: Chief Financial Officer, Chief Investment Officer, Head of Legal, the Entire Corporate Affairs Department, IT Officers, Finance Manager, Head of IT, Legal Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Business Development Officers, Deputy Head of Procurement, etc.

Lost expertise

In total, MIIF, with a staff strength of approximately 35 employees, has lost over 15 employees – virtually the backbone of the institution – since Mrs. Nelson took office.

Former employees who spoke to the media describe the atmosphere as “toxic,” “intimidating,” and “utterly hostile to professional integrity.”

“Once you challenged the false narrative, you were gone. People were terrified. The institution we built was collapsing from the inside,” One former senior officer told the media.

With Dr Kwaku Asiedu-Nketiah’s departure, MIIF has lost the expertise of an innovative financial consultant with a rich background in modern corporate structuring across diverse markets and a passion for corporate governance and financial management.

Nketiah’s corporate journey

Kwaku’s corporate journey spans various continents, from his academic pursuits in South Africa and Scotland to his professional roles in Canada, the United States, and Ghana.

Holding esteemed positions such as Managing Partner at AFRIMEX GOLD LIMITED, Chief Executive at JOY TRANSPORTERS COMPANY LIMITED, and CEO/Founder at KAYAB Maritime Services Company Limited, he has contributed significantly to the financial and management sectors.

Academic Pursuits

Driven by a thirst for knowledge, Kwaku holds a DPHIL in Management Science at the Central University of Technology.

His doctoral research focuses on the relationship between policy changes, corporate governance practices, and the performance of State-owned Enterprises in Ghana.

He also holds an MSc in Finance & Management from Heriot-Watt University and a BBA in Accounting & Management from Mount Royal University.

Kwaku is a proud member of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Production Accountants, which showcases his commitment to professional excellence and industry standards.

Throughout his career, Kwaku has garnered prestigious awards, including CEO of the Year at the Ghana Youth Leadership Award 2023 and the Excellence in Quality Leadership Award in Paris, France, 2015.

His notable accomplishments include negotiating a monumental $30 billion infrastructure development deal for the Republic of Cameroon and playing a pivotal role in the groundbreaking discovery of Lithium in Ghana.

Kwaku was instrumental in establishing the Wankang and Kada ceramics companies in Takoradi. The Wankang company, valued at US$100 million, specialises in producing a range of ceramic products.

Since its establishment in 2015, Kada Ghana Ceramics Company Ltd. has created over 2,000 direct jobs and generated 5,000 additional indirect jobs for Ghanaians.

Kwaku’s commitment to nation-building is evident through his transformative partnerships, such as the discovery of Lithium in Ghana, which paved the way for a groundbreaking collaboration with the Australian mining company, Atlantic Lithium Limited.

His involvement in developing a diverse and valuable portfolio of precious minerals further underscores his dedication to Ghana’s economic growth.