Joe Steve Annan, Senior Manager of Occupational Safety and Health at AngloGold Ashanti
Panellists at the West Africa Mining and Power Exhibition (WAMPEX) 2025 have called on mining companies to adopt modern technology to enhance their operations.
They emphasised that as the industry transitions from owner mining to contract mining, companies must invest in advanced safety systems that promote both safety and sustainability across the mining value chain.
Key contributors to this call included Joe Steve Annan, Senior Manager of Occupational Safety and Health at AngloGold Ashanti (AGA), Obuasi Mine, and Dr Eric Stem, a lecturer at the Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering, University of Mines and Technology (UMaT).
Speaking on the topic “Harnessing Technology to Strengthen Safety Culture,” the panellists stressed that while value addition and local content remain priorities, stakeholders must prioritise safety as a core value to minimise risks associated with their operations.
Ing. Annan expressed concern that despite mining being one of the most regulated industries, there were still lapses in some aspects of the value chain.
He called for the deployment of modern preventive and reactive technology to strengthen and sustain a strong safety culture at the mines that can prevent undesirable incidents.
New software
Speaking on AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine’s commitment to promoting safety, Annan explained that the company had developed several software programs to support safety management, onboarding training and ongoing in-service safety capacity building for all workers, including contractors.
These initiatives are being rolled out in phases to ensure maximum effectiveness.
He stated. “For instance, when you are recruited to work as a miner, beyond the standard induction programme, there are specific safety tools and protocols you must be trained on and equipped to use.”
He further emphasised that the training goes beyond PowerPoint presentations or theoretical demonstrations, incorporating hands-on practical sessions to ensure workers fully understand how to apply the safety systems and technology in real-world scenarios.
Although the initiative was initially designed and piloted for AGA staff, Ing. Annan noted that it would be extended to all business partners by July 2026.
He added that onboarding employees through the safety management platform has helped establish a strong and integrated safety and security ecosystem across the company.
Mobile application
Mr Annan also revealed that Obuasi Mine operates a mobile-based safety management system, which includes measurable key performance indicators embedded with clear responsibilities, accountability structures, and performance outputs.
He described the system as a functional ecosystem that enables team members to interface with one another, track ongoing tasks, and stay informed on collective safety efforts.
“At the end of the day, there’s a monitoring and evaluation component that allows us to track individual performance, identify gaps, and take corrective action,” he said.
The system not only detects inefficiencies but also reinforces positive safety behaviours.
“With this monitoring system, we’ve reduced our total recordable injury frequency per person from over one to 0.4 by consistently reinforcing safe behaviours,” he added.
Prioritise technology
For his part, Dr Stem stressed the need for mining companies to invest more in technologies and systems that would facilitate human resource management and create safer working environments.
He noted that as Ghana strived to become the mining hub in Africa, efficient monitoring and safety regimes needed to be adopted to deal with the root causes of injuries and deaths at the mines, particularly fatigue.
“Mining companies must leverage technology to build a mature safety culture. One where equipment operators recognise safety systems as beneficial and integral to their work,” he said.
Dr. Stem also called for the development of specialised training modules for machine operators to ensure they understand how to use safety software effectively.
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