Ghana’s Minerals Commission warns mining firms on safety breaches

The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Andrews Tandoh, has cautioned mining licence holders to strictly adhere to health and safety standards or face tougher sanctions.

Speaking at the Second Africa Mining Health and Safety Series in Takoradi, Mr. Tandoh stressed that mining companies will be held fully responsible for all activities on their concessions, including those carried out by subcontractors.

He warned that companies can no longer shift blame for safety violations, noting that repeated incidents such as fatal accidents or unsafe practices can have severe consequences for both operations and investor confidence.

According to him, poor safety records can lead to increased insurance premiums, loss of investor trust, and in extreme cases, the shutdown of mining operations, with wider economic and livelihood impacts.

Mr. Tandoh emphasised that any contractor operating under a mining licence holder must comply with established safety, health and environmental (SHE) standards, adding that failure to do so could put the company’s permit at risk.

He reiterated that the Minerals Commission will hold licence holders accountable for all actions on their concessions and urged firms to enforce strict safety protocols across their operations and partnerships.