Newmont Ghana Gold Limited at the weekend hosted and won the Best National Community Safety and First-Aid competition held at Kenyasi No. 1. The competition brought all mining companies in the country together.

They included, AngloGold Ashanti, Ghana Manganese, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, Central African Gold, Aboso Goldfields, Tarkwa Goldfields, Chiraa Ano Gold Mines, Darman Aboso Goldfield and Gold Star Wassa Mines.

The first Aid and safety competition was instituted by the Ghana Chamber of Mines to inculcate and reinforce safety within the mining industry. The competition was themed, “THE RIGHT WAY, THE SAFE WAY EVERYDAY”.

On behalf of the Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines. Hon Esther Obeng Dapaah, Mr Ellis Paul Atiglah, the Acting Technical Director of Mines, urged mining employees to priorities safety in the discharge of their duties.  “I wish to implore all mining companies to be relentless in the provision of safety gadgets in their workplaces, “he said.

The minister made it know that government acknowledges the immense contribution of the mining industry towards Socio – Economic Development.

She also touched on the readiness of government in legalising small-scale mining and even unveiled some of the measures put in place, and advised the mining companies to collaborate with the University of Mines and Technology (UMT) in the Development of Human Capital to their own advantage and the Nation as a whole.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ms Joyce Aryee, mentioned the lack of indigenous blasting standards as a major concern of the mining industry. She said through the technical committee of the chamber, her outfit has obtained the consent of a mining sector support programme from European Union (EU) to develop good standards of blasting for the country.

“I would therefore encourage the Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission. EPA and our member companies to work seriously to ensure that we have our own home-grown but internationally acceptable blasting standards,” she added.

She finally advised mining employees to reorient themselves on safety consciousness.

For his turn, the Regional Vice President of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, Mr Adiaan Van Kessen admitting the dangers posed by the mining companies through their operation in the uses of poisonous chemical cautioned them to ensure safety in their activities.  He reiterated that for Newmont to spend over $130,000 on the competition is a reflection that it places premium on safety and first aid issues. He won the admiration of all when he outlined some of the measures his company has put in place to effectively manage safety both at the mining sites and within its operational communities.

To add his voiuce, the Chief of Kenyasi No. 1 Traditional area, Nana Osei Kofi Abiri promised that he will leave no stone unturned to adhere to the mining laws in his area by helping curb galamsey operations down.

Source: ISD (DANIEL OPPONG, KENYASI-ASUTIFI)
Posted: 28/11/08

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