Gold Fields Ghana Limited has reaffirmed its strong commitment to workplace safety after its Community Team emerged winner of the 2026 Zone One Inter-Mine First Aid and Safety Competition.
The winning team scored an impressive 98 per cent to outclass teams from Gold Fields Ghana Tarkwa Mine, AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, Asante Gold and Ghana Manganese Company in the keenly contested competition.
As part of the prize package, each member of the victorious team received a 65-inch Samsung television.
The competition, which has been running since 1977, brought together mining companies to demonstrate their preparedness and capacity to respond effectively to emergencies and protect lives within their operations.
Mr Elliot Twum, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Gold Fields Ghana Limited and host of the event, described the theme, “Safety First and Always,” as more than a slogan, saying it should serve as a call to action for everyone in the mining industry.
He said the annual competition provided an important platform for mining companies to demonstrate to the public the seriousness with which they approached safety and emergency preparedness.
Professor Bernard Kumi-Boateng, Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology, announced that the university would introduce a programme in Safety from the next academic year to help meet the growing demand for skilled safety professionals in the mining industry.
He urged mining companies to continue strengthening their safety systems and culture, stressing that effective safety practices could prevent avoidable accidents and spare families the pain and grief associated with workplace fatalities.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, also underscored the importance of safety, describing it as a fundamental component of every mining operation.
He cautioned against viewing workplace accidents merely as statistics, noting that each fatality had a devastating impact on families and communities.
Dr Ashigbey called for greater protection of both permanent and contract workers, describing all employees as “the real gold that must be keenly protected.”
Dr Catherine Kuupol-Kuutor, Manager of Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improving the welfare and safety of its employees and surrounding communities.
She said Gold Fields would continue to strengthen its safety practices and advance its culture of care as part of its broader responsibility to its workforce and host communities.
