Asanko Gold Mine has added to its laurels after winning the community category of the 2025 National Inter-Mines First Aid and Safety Competition organized by the Ghana Chamber of Mines.

Staff of large-scale mining firms and their community teams assembled for this year’s competition, hosted by Asanko Gold Mine.

The participating teams showcased their preparedness in responding to emergencies both within mining sites and in host communities.

The teams comprised both staff and community teams from Golden Star Wassa, Asanko Gold Mine, AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem, AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi, and the Ghana Manganese Company Limited.

In the community teams category, Asanko Gold Mine emerged winners with 98%, beating Abosso Goldfields Damang with 89%, AngloGold Obuasi Mine with 85.5%, and the Ghana Manganese Company, which scored 27%.

In the staff category, however, Golden Star Wassa scored 59%, Asanko Gold Mine 58.5%, AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi 52%, and AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem 50%.

An oral component of the competition is expected to be held a week later in Accra.

The Ghana Chamber of Mines believes such engagements do not only align communities with corporate safety goals but also provide practical safety knowledge.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Mines, Director for Analysis, Research, and Finance at the chamber, Christopher Opoku Darko, elaborated that the annual competition was a demonstration of lifesaving first aid techniques that can mean the difference between life and death in real-world emergencies.

“A mine is not truly safe unless the community around it is also safe. That is why we continue to engage community teams and especially empower women to actively participate in safety competitions,” he said.

Managing Director for Asanko Gold Ghana Limited, Dr. Charles Amoah, emphasized that safety was not a one-day event, but a mindset and a way of life that must be prioritized at all times.

He pledged Asanko Mine’s commitment to improving its safety standards not only within the mine’s environment but also in the host communities for inclusive safety.

“At Asanko, safety defines who we are. It shapes our culture, drives our discipline, and reflects our commitment to excellence. Hosting this year’s competition is therefore not just an honour but a clear demonstration of our belief that safety is a shared duty across the entire mining industry,” he noted.

He commended the Ghana Chamber of Mines for granting Asanko Gold Mine the privilege to host this year’s National Inter-Mines First Aid and Safety Competition.

Paramount Chief for the Manso-Nkwanta Traditional Area, Nana Bi-Kusi Appiah II, lauded the initiative hosted in his community to create awareness on safety, noting that it moves the industry one step closer to zero harm.

This year’s competition was held on the theme, “Every Moment is an Ambush, Think Safety All the Time”.