A troubling surge of accidents in the country’s mining sector last year has raised serious concerns about safety within the industry.
In 2023, seven workers lost their lives – up from just one fatality recorded the previous year. Furthermore, the number of first-aid Injuries increased from 156 in 2022 to 162 in 2023.
Indeed, Chief Executive Officer-Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr. Sulemanu Koney, notes that this rise in accidents highlights both the mining sector’s inherent challenges and a need for urgent safety reforms.
“All classes of reportable injuries increased year-on-year, except near-misses and serious injuries. The frequency of near-miss incidents declined from 325 in 2022 to 254 in 2023, translating into a downturn of 21.8 percent,” Dr. Koney revealed.
Speaking at the ‘Annual Inter-Mines First-Aid and Safety Competition’ hosted by Asante Gold Chirano Limited, Dr. Koney observed that fatalities spiked by 600 percent.
However, the Chamber of Mines boss also noted that the frequency of serious injuries – which involve injuries that lead to loss of a shift for more than 14 days – declined by 34.6 percent to 17 in 2023 from 26 in 2022.
Thankfully, to address these growing safety concerns the Ghana Chamber of Mines has implemented several initiatives aimed at improving safety preparedness.
One key measure is the Safety Webinar Series, which has attracted widespread participation from members and contractors across the industry. The chamber is also partnering with St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, leveraging its expertise to boost emergency response capabilities.
The mining sector remains a crucial contributor to the country’s economy, therefore it is important to ensure a safe and healthy working environment and safe communities.
For his part, General Manager-Asante Gold Chirano Ltd., Ing Alfred Asante Yamoah, noted that: “Including community teams reinforces the mining industry’s commitment to improving the lot of host communities and equipping everyone with first-aid knowledge, because emergencies can happen anywhere”.
The Chamber of Mines admonishes that safety is not only a regulatory requirement but also a moral responsibility. Thus, the chamber also calls on all members to encourage contractor participation in the Safety Webinar initiative to ensure they stay up-to-date with the latest safety practices and protocols.
