By Erica Apeatua Addo, GNA
Akyempim (W/R), October 23, GNA-Golden Star Wassa Mine, owned by China’s Chifeng Gold, will host this year’s finals of the annual National Inter-Mines First Aid and Safety Competition in its Akyempim host community.
Six large mining firms in Ghana, Asante Gold Bibiani, Asante Gold Chirano, Adamus Resources, Newmont, Heath Goldfields, and Gold Star Wassa, would compete for honours at the 16th edition of the competition on Saturday 24th October 2026.
The mining companies qualified for the finals after two rigorous zonal qualifiers organised by the Ghana Chamber of Mines, in partnership with the Saint John’s Ambulance Service and the Minerals Commission.
This year’s theme for the competition is: “Safety First, Safety Always”.
Speaking ahead of the event, Mr. Lianghua Lin, the Chief Executive Officer of Golden Star Wassa, noted that safety was the company’s ultimate benchmark.
According to him, “The very nature of mining makes safety a non-negotiable priority. Our primary focus is ensuring that work is executed safely every single day, so that every employee returns home whole to their families, safety is our license to operate”.
The annual event, structured as a competition, addressed critical economic and social issues within the extractive industry. Emergency response is a business-critical asset because immediately first-aid readiness mitigates risk, protects infrastructure, and eliminates operational downtime caused by unforeseen incidents.
The competition bridges the gap between mining operations and the public by involving two distinct categories: Mine team, comprising specialised employees trained to handle high-stakes industrial medical scenarios, and community teams, made up of residents from local host communities equipped with primary lifesaving skills.
By empowering community members, the programme builds a localised safety net. These ordinary citizens return to their neighbourhoods as trained first responders who can manage domestic emergencies, road accidents, and public health crises long before emergency medical services arrive.
Commenting on Golden Star Wassa’s readiness for the event both in terms of hosting and participating, Mr. Kojo Ansah, the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Manager, pointed out that corporate responsibility must extend beyond the balance sheet.
He emphasised that hosting the national tournament, alongside the extensive employee and community training leading up to it, process GSR management absolute commitment to safety.
Mr. Ansah said, “When we invest in first-aid competency, we are explicitly investing in the long-term term sustainability of our workforce and host communities”.
He was emphatic about Golden Star Wassa’s chances of emerging winners on the day.
Golden Star Wassa holds a premier record in the tournament’s history, having clinched the zonal championship 10 times and the National title 7 times. “Hosting this edition further solidifies our position as a benchmark for safety standards in Ghana’s mining landscape” Mr. Ansah stated.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Erica Apeatua Addo
Email: [email protected]