Ghana’s mining deaths fall sharply, but Chamber insists ‘three deaths are too many’
The number of fatalities recorded in Ghana’s mining industry dropped significantly in 2025, falling from seven deaths in 2024 to three, representing a decline of more than 57 per cent.
In 2025, the number of fatalities in Ghana's mining sector plummeted from seven in 2024 to just three, marking a significant 57 percent decrease. The Ghana Chamber of Mines credited this improvement to heightened safety measures, such as employee training, emergency preparedness, leadership, and risk management. However, the Chamber cautioned against complacency, stating that zero fatalities remain the ultimate goal.
Ghana Chamber of Mines CEO, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, presented these statistics at the Zone One Inter-Mines First Aid and Safety Competition. Despite the decline, the industry reported 34 serious accidents and 210 first aid cases in 2025. Ashigbey urged mining companies to intensify efforts in hazard identification, behavioral safety, risk management, and emergency response, while improving learning mechanisms from workplace incidents.
He emphasized that the industry's ultimate target is zero fatalities and zero harm, stressing equal attention to the safety of both contracted and permanent workers.
Tarkwa Mine Manager at Gold Fields Ghana, Dr Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, highlighted the importance of personal responsibility in maintaining safe workplaces, stating that workers must take safety measures seriously, irrespective of supervision. Gold Fields Ghana extended their safety initiatives to include collaboration with host communities, emergency services, security agencies, and community leaders.
Kuutor asserted that responsible mining should be evaluated not solely by production metrics, but also by the lives saved and development facilitated in mining communities.
Prof. Bernard Kumi-Boateng, Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology, announced the introduction of an inter-faculty first aid competition for all students starting next academic year to reinforce practical safety skills. The Zone One competition was won by Heath Goldfields Community with 98 points, followed closely by Ghana Manganese Company Limited Community with 97.5 points, and Asante Gold Corporation with 96.5 points.
Gold Fields Ghana Limited came in fourth with 91 points, and AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine was fifth with 81.5 points.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
