Golden Star Wassa to host national mines safety competition

Mr Lianghua Lin, Acting CEO, Golden Star Wassa

Golden Star Wassa, owned by China’s Chifeng Gold, will host the 16th edition of the National Inter-Mines First Aid and Safety Competition at its Akyempim host community on Saturday, October 24, 2026.

Six large-scale mining companies, Asante Gold Bibiani, Asante Gold Chirano, Adamus Resources, Newmont, Heath Goldfields and Golden Star Wassa — will compete for honours at the annual event.

The companies qualified for the finals after two zonal competitions organised by the Ghana Chamber of Mines in partnership with the St John Ambulance Service and the Minerals Commission.

This year’s competition is being held on the theme: ‘Safety First, Safety Always.’

Ahead of the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Golden Star Wassa, Mr Lianghua Lin, said safety remained the company’s ultimate benchmark.

“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,” he indicated.

The annual competition seeks to promote safety awareness and strengthen emergency response capabilities in the mining industry and host communities.

First-aid preparedness is critical to reducing risks, protecting infrastructure and minimising operational disruptions arising from unforeseen incidents.

The competition features two categories: mine teams, comprising employees trained to respond to industrial medical emergencies, and community teams, made up of residents from mining host communities who have received basic life-saving training.

The initiative also equips community members to respond to domestic emergencies, road accidents and other public health incidents before professional emergency medical services arrive.

The Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager of Golden Star Wassa, Mr Kojo Ansah, said corporate responsibility extended beyond financial performance to protecting employees and host communities.

He explained that the company’s role as host, alongside the extensive training of employees and community members ahead of the competition, demonstrated management’s commitment to safety.

“When we invest in first-aid competency, we are explicitly investing in the long-term sustainability of our workforce and host communities,” he underlined.

Mr Ansah expressed confidence in Golden Star Wassa’s chances of winning the competition.

The company has a strong record in the tournament, having won the zonal championship six times and the national title five times.

“Hosting this edition further solidifies our position as a benchmark for safety standards in Ghana’s mining landscape,” he said.

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