Golden Star Wassa, owned by China’s Chifeng Gold, is hosting the 16th edition of the National Inter-Mines First Aid and Safety Competition today, Saturday, October 24, 2026, at its Akyempim host community.
Six large-scale mining companies will compete in the national finals under the theme, “Safety First, Safety Always.” They are Asante Gold Bibiani, Asante Gold Chirano, Adamus Resources, Newmont, Heath Goldfields and Golden Star Wassa.
The companies qualified for the finals through two zonal competitions organised by the Ghana Chamber of Mines in partnership with the St. John Ambulance Service and the Minerals Commission.
Ahead of the competition, Golden Star Wassa Chief Executive Officer, Lianghua Lin, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to workplace safety.
He said mining operations require strict safety measures to ensure every worker returns home safely to their family.
“The very nature of mining makes safety a non-negotiable priority,” Mr Lin said, adding that safety remained the company’s licence to operate.
The annual competition promotes emergency preparedness and strengthens first-aid skills within mining operations and host communities.
It brings together two categories of teams. Mine teams comprise employees trained to respond to industrial medical emergencies, while community teams consist of residents equipped with basic life-saving skills.
The initiative seeks to improve emergency response before professional medical services arrive. The skills acquired can also help community members respond to domestic emergencies, road accidents and other public health crises.
Golden Star Wassa’s Safety, Health and Environment Manager, Kojo Ansah, said the company’s decision to host the competition reflected its commitment to protecting employees and host communities.
He noted that the training activities leading up to the event demonstrated management’s commitment to making safety a central part of its operations.
“When we invest in first-aid competency, we are explicitly investing in the long-term sustainability of our workforce and host communities,” Mr Ansah said.
He also expressed confidence in Golden Star Wassa’s prospects of winning the competition.
The company has a strong record in the tournament, having won the zonal championship 10 times and the national title seven times.
Mr Ansah said hosting this year’s edition further strengthened Golden Star Wassa’s position in promoting safety standards in Ghana’s mining industry.
The competition is expected to reinforce the importance of first-aid readiness, emergency response and a shared commitment to safety across mining companies and their host communities.
Source: myinfotday.com
