Counsel to former President Nana Akufo-Addo, Kow Essuman, has announced he has filed a formal application for review before the Right to Information (RTI) Commission against the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).
According to him, the application was filed as the current MIIF’s refusal to respond to multiple RTI requests and internal review applications he submitted since September 2025.
It will be recalled that a 2024 audit report shared by JoyNews exposed how the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) blew over GH¢11 million on foreign travels without government approval.
In 2020, the Ministry of Finance issued a directive that no public servant shall travel on official business without clearance through the Chief of Staff.
The audit service reports revealed board and key management of MIIF spent more than GH¢11 million on foreign travel in 2024 without approval from the Chief of Staff, the sector minister, or the Chief Director.
The MIIF’s Head of Human Resources, responding to the findings, stated that all travels requiring approval from the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Director were duly cleared.
Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng, the former MIIF CEO, however, claimed the Chief of Staff at the time was notified of all the trips.
Acting MIIF CEO Justina Nelson, who appeared before the Public Accounts Committee, argued that “spending was necessary to give the Fund the visibility and capacity needed to operate its new office”.
Kow Essuman, who was appointed a board member of MIIF under the Akufo-Addo government, in a social media post stated, “This morning, I filed a formal Application for Review before the Right to Information (RTI) Commission under section 65 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) against the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).
This application arises from MIIF’s refusal, both express and deemed, to determine or respond to multiple RTI requests and internal review applications I have submitted since September 2025. These requests sought straightforward information about the 2024 audited financial statements of MIIF. As a former Board Member, this information is not only of significant public interest but directly relevant to my tenure, under which the matters contained in 2024 statements transpired”.
He added, “My application sets out several constitutional breaches and violations of both the RTI Act and the MIIF Act, particularly regarding transparency, accountability, and statutory reporting obligations. I have duly served MIIF with a copy of my application. See copies attached.
During this period, I also submitted similar requests to the Auditor-General of the Ghana Audit Service and the Ministry of Finance.
The Audit Service has been exemplary – professional, transparent, prompt, and helpful. The Information Officer confirmed that the 2024 audited financial statements were completed, signed on 27 June 2025, and submitted to MIIF and the Ministry of Finance. They further explained that due to timing differences – ensuring a complete and accurate audit – the 2024 report could not be included in the 2025 Auditor-General’s report to Parliament and will instead be included in the 2026 report.
Unfortunately, the Ministry of Finance has not responded to any of my RTI requests, in clear breach of Act 989”.
Kow Essuman further revealed, as a Board Member of MIIF, his trips were duly approved by the Chief of Staff, and he has documentary evidence to back his claims.
He added, “While preparing this application, I woke up to a Joy News report alleging unapproved foreign travels by Board Members of MIIF. Let me state categorically that every trip I undertook as a Board Member of MIIF was duly approved by the Chief of Staff, and I have documentary evidence to support this.
It is disappointing that a reputable media house would publish such claims based on what they describe as “intercepted documents”, documents which were clearly incomplete and misleading, given that:
1. MIIF itself has repeatedly stated publicly that it has not published the 2024 audited financial statements;
2. That is precisely why I filed my RTI requests;
3. The current MIIF CEO confirmed before Parliament and publicly justified the official travels;
4. Any documents relied upon by Joy News, without the full financial statements, cannot present a fair or professional picture”.
See the post below:
This morning, I filed a formal Application for Review before the Right to Information (RTI) Commission under section 65 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) against the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).
— Kow Essuman (@kaessuman) November 26, 2025
This application arises from MIIF’s refusal, both express… pic.twitter.com/vRXdpWYJZe