Chamber of Mines pushes stronger safety measures
In response to a rise in workplace injuries across many Ghanaian mining companies, the Ghana Chamber of Mines is stepping up its supervision to ensure that local communities are fully engaged in safety programmes at large-scale mining sites.
The Chamber believes that extending safety standards beyond the mine’s boundaries will help reduce the scale of damage in the event of disasters.
Data from the Chamber of Mines shows a mixed picture of the sector’s safety performance in 2024. While there were gains in some areas, reportable injuries rose by six per cent, with first aid cases increasing from 162 in 2023 to 172 last year. Severe injuries causing more than 14 days of absence surged from 17 to 43.
Conversely, fatalities fell from seven to four, representing a 42.9 per cent improvement.
The Chamber expressed concern that contractor-related accidents continue to dominate incident records, urging greater cooperation between companies and contractors, alongside sustained safety training.
Christopher Opoku Nyarko, Director for Analysis, Research and Finance at the Chamber, stressed that safety remains the industry’s core value. He noted that although fatalities have reduced, non-fatal incidents require urgent attention.
“Safety is not just something we talk about; it is our first core value. Every incident is investigated, lessons are shared across the industry, and we work to ensure it never happens again,” he said.
The 2025 National Inter-Mines First Aid and Safety Competition brought together teams from large-scale mining firms and their host communities to showcase practical emergency responses on-site and within communities. The competition forms part of the industry’s effort to transfer lifesaving skills to surrounding residents.
Participating companies included Golden Star Wassa, Asanko Gold Mine, AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem, AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi, and Ghana Manganese Company Limited.
Emmanuel Atitiati, Occupational Health and Safety Manager at Asanko Gold Ghana, highlighted that limited access to community members remains a major hurdle in expanding safety education.
“We cannot reach every household at the same time, so we rely on community leadership to pass on the information. Basic safety at home is just as important as safety on-site,” he explained.
In many mining towns, residents share roads with heavy-duty trucks, increasing safety risks.
District Chief Executive for Amansie South, Emmanuel Marfo, urged intensified public education on safety due to rising motorcycle accidents in the district.
“The majority of emergency cases we receive are linked to motorcycle crashes. Many riders do not wear helmets and lack proper training. We are engaging traditional leaders to introduce by-laws and collaborate with mining companies to offer rider education,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Asanko Gold Mine, host of the 2025 Inter-Mine First Aid and Safety Competition, won the top prize in the community team category. The event was organised under the auspices of the Ghana Chamber of Mines.
