The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Mrs. Justina Nelson, has dragged some newspaper editors to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, over alleged defamation stories pertaining to issues at the state-owned institution.
Information gathered indicated that she petitioned the IGP to investigate the editors for recent media publications about her stewardship at MIIF.
The publications were centred on her decision not to release the 2024 audited financial statement of MIIF, and her quest to have the Auditor-General re-audit the financial statement based on what she believed were misstatements in the audited financials of the fund.
The Special Operations Assistance (SOA), a unit under the IGP’s office, is leading the investigation.
Editors interrogated
The Editor of the New Crusading Guide, Mr. Ernest Addo, has so far been invited, and he honoured the invitation in the company of his lawyer and the founder and publisher of the paper, Abdul-Malik Kwaku Baako, on Wednesday, 11 February 2026.
The SOA unit also interrogated Wilberforce Asare, a broadcast journalist, on Tuesday, 24th February 2026, at the Police CID office for about two and half hours following a similar invitation.
Lawyers for Mr Asare, Dame and Partners, secured a copy of the petition in advance of his appearance.
In the petition, Mrs. Nelson described the publications as “persistent, false, malicious, and coordinated,” targeting both her and MIIF across social and traditional media.
According to her, the campaign against her began shortly after she was appointed on January 15, 2025, allegedly escalating over time and undermining public confidence in MIIF and causing her personal and professional distress.
Mrs. Nelson further accused Wilberforce Asare of seeking the publication of the 2024 financial statements and allegedly requesting that she publicly credit the former administration or pay GH₵100,000 to halt further coverage, a demand she described as extortionate and unethical. She said these actions have subjected her and her family to undue public scrutiny, anxiety, and reputational harm.
However, Mr Asare, according to information gathered, has debunked the allegations, describing them as unfounded and complete falsehood.
The MIIF CEO’s petition is seeking multiple actions from the Police, including summoning journalists for questioning, ordering the removal of false publications, issuing formal retractions, and investigating potential extortion or coordinated disinformation.
MIIF CEO sues editor, newspapers
In a related development, Mrs. Nelson has filed a defamation suit in court against three editors—Ken Kuranchie, Wilberforce Asare, and Daniel Bampoe, and six newspapers namely The Daily Searchlight, The Source, The Custodian, Ghanaian Publisher, The Daily Gist and The New Crusading Guide.
She is seeking GH₵10 million in damages, a perpetual injunction preventing further defamatory publications, and formal retractions and apologies.
In her statement of claim, Mrs. Nelson contended that on November 26, 2025, the defendants published “libelous statements falsely alleging her involvement in financial mismanagement and coercion of the Auditor-General.”
She claimed the publications portrayed her as manufacturing figures, falsifying official records, and coercing state institutions—allegations she insisted were untrue, malicious, and intended to damage her reputation.
“The defendants deliberately orchestrated the defamation campaign, knowing its falsity or recklessly disregarding the truth, with the intention of causing substantial reputational harm to me,” the statement read.
While the investigations and court proceedings are ongoing, the media and public would be closely watching developments in what has become a high-profile legal and reputational battle involving MIIF and its CEO.
By Kyei Boateng
