The Disaster and Emergency Management Hub (DEM Hub) of the University of Mines and Technology has underscored the urgent need to integrate psychosocial safety into workplaces across Ghana.
This forms part of activities marking the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2026 themed “Integrating Psychosocial Safety in the Ghanaian Working Environment: From Policy to Practice”.
Speaking at the event held the UMaT auditorium, Professor Eric Stemn, Head of the Department of Environment and Safety Engineering and DEM Hub Coordinator, revealed alarming statistics on workplace stress, depression, and mental health disorders both in Ghana and globally.
According to him, about 54 percent of Ghanaian workers experience stress daily at their workplaces, based on research conducted in 2023.
He said depression is also increasing globally at an alarming rate, with reported cases rising by 176 percent year-on-year. He noted that global depression cases rose from 50 million in 2024 to 138 million in 2025.
Among specialized groups such as health professionals, Prof. Stemn said the prevalence of depression stands at 31.5 percent, anxiety at 38.6 percent, and burnout at 41.2 percent.
He further disclosed that an estimated 7.5 percent of Ghana’s population suffers from mental disorders, yet nearly 98 percent of affected persons do not receive treatment.
“These figures indicate that psychosocial safety is a key issue confronting the world of work in Ghana, and that is why this year we are focusing on psychosocial safety,” he said.
As part of activities to mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2026, there were radio talk shows to highlight various psychosocial safety issues affecting miners. Apart from that was an emergency simulation exercise which took place at the Nsuta Junction on Monday, April 27, 2026 in Tarkwa.
The exercise, dubbed “Toxic Crossroads Exercise,” simulated collision between a truck carrying ferric chloride and a tricycle transporting fuel. The crash caused a fuel spill, a chemical fire and a hydrogen gas explosion.
Organisers designed the exercise to test emergency response to a complex disaster involving hazardous materials, fire and multiple casualties.
Several emergency agencies joined the simulation exercise, sponsored by Gold Fields Ghana Ltd.
They included the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Ambulance Service, Ghana National Fire Service and the National Disaster Management Organisation.
The exercise forms part of efforts by UMaT to promote workplace safety, disaster preparedness and sustainable mining practices in Ghana.
Source: Myinfotoday.com.com
