By Christopher Tetteh/ Fredrick Asenso Boateng, GNA
Kenyasi Number Two (A/R), Dec. 4, GNA - Mr Bernard Wessels, the General Manager, Newmont Goldcorp - Ahafo Mine, has called on drivers to avoid alcoholism and unapproved substances and drive carefully to minimise road crashes.
The essence of saving lives and improving livelihoods must always be the hallmark of any driver, so there is the need for drivers to drive safely, particularly, as the Christmas festive season approaches, he said.
Mr Wessels was speaking at the 2019 ‘National Inter-Mines Safety and First Aid Competition held recently at Kenyasi Number Two in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region.
On the theme: “Life is Priceless: Drive Safely”, the event was held under the auspices of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, the Inspectorate Division of Minerals Commission and St. John Ambulance Ghana.
It was part of efforts to create and deepen safety and first aid awareness among mining companies and their host communities.
Mr Wessels said as a company with the purpose of creating values and improving lives through sustainable and reasonable mining, Newmont Goldcorp-Ahafo Mine would not relent in its efforts to create a safer working environment for all stakeholders.
He said “Mining safety is the backbone of our operations at Newmont Goldcorp and the aspiration of the entire mining industry is to value the essence of safety and the need for employees to work in an environment devoid of hazards, harm or casualties”.
Mr Wessels urged pedestrians to follow all road safety instructions as the festive season approaches and also speak up when they see something wrong in terms of road safety.
Mr Sulemanu Koney, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, said it is essential for member companies to continue to innovate and deploy technologies that would save lives.
He said it is a collective responsibility and the individual duty to be safe at all times and “we owe it to ourselves first not to engage in any activities that would place our lives and that of our colleagues at risk in and out of the mining sites”.
Mr Koney said companies in the mining sector were committed to implementing effective health safety and environmental management systems with beneficial outcomes to enhance the socio-economic development of the country.
He urged all to pay particular attention to their bodies and ensure that they never operated any machine or vehicle when tired or under the influence of any unapproved substance.
“We need to protect ourselves because our families depend on us and look forward to embracing us at the end of our hectic day’s work”, Mr Koney added.
Other participating mining companies were Golden Star at Bogoso/Prestea, Ghana Manganese Company, Goldfields Ghana Limited and Adamus Resources.
The competing community teams were from Golden Star, Wassa, Gold Fields, Damang, Asanko Gold Mine and Newmont Goldcorp - Ahafo mine.
Newmont Goldcorp-Ahafo Mine was adjudged the overall best winner of the competition with 91.5 points and Golden Star at Bogoso/Prestea placed second with 85 points.
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