Some mine workers taking part in the competition
The Mining Industry recorded 34 serious accidents and 210 first-aid accidents in 2025.
However, fatalities in the industry declined from seven in 2024 to three in 2025, representing a reduction of more than 57 per cent.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Mines, Ken Ashigbey, who disclosed this, noted that “We must never allow this progress to make us complacent.”
He was speaking at the 2026 Inter-Mines First Aid and Safety Competition at Tarkwa in the Western Region.
The programme is an annual flagship event that brings together teams from mining companies and their host communities to test their practical skills in first aid and emergency response.
It was on the theme “Safety First, Safety Always.”
He said, “Our statistics are not merely numbers. Behind each one is a colleague, a family and a community affected by an incident. Our destination must therefore remain clear: Zero fatalities and zero harm.”
He noted that the industry must continue strengthening behavioural safety, hazard identification, risk management, emergency preparedness and the ability to learn from incidents and near misses.
“We must also pay particular attention to contractor safety. Risk does not distinguish between a permanent employee and a contractor,” he added.
Mr. Ashigbey said, “Every miner who returns home safely at the end of a shift is a success story worth celebrating.”
“Every injury prevented is a victory. Every life protected demonstrates that our investments in safety, training, systems and leadership are worthwhile. That is ultimately why we gather for the competition,” he stressed.
Dr. Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, Tarkwa Mine Manager of Gold Fields, noted that the mining company recognises that safety extends beyond the boundaries of the mine.
“We actively collaborate with community members to foster a proactive safety culture that safeguards families and livelihoods,” she added.
She pointed out that safety remains the number one priority of the mining company, adding that if the company cannot guarantee a safe operation, it will not operate.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Tarkwa