The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Andrews Tandoh, has issued a strong warning to mining licence holders, indicating that stricter sanctions will be enforced for any health and safety breaches on their concessions, even when such violations are caused by subcontractors.
Speaking at the second Africa Mining Health and Safety Series in Takoradi, organised by Global Strategic Network in collaboration with the Minerals Commission, Mr. Tandoh noted that many principal mining companies often deny responsibility for safety lapses. He stressed that the Commission will no longer tolerate such excuses, emphasising that poor safety practices pose significant risks to workers, host communities, and investors.
“A single catastrophic event—a tailings spill, a fatal collapse, or a child labour scandal—can wipe out decades of shareholder value in forty-eight hours. So, when a mine suffers repeated incidents, multiple things can happen immediately: insurers raise premiums or withdraw coverage, and investors begin to ask difficult questions in the boardroom. At worst, the mine can be shut down, and that impacts livelihoods and economies.
A mine that cuts corners on safety is building a mountain of liability, and no investor wants that. If your partner operates unsafely, you are responsible. If your contractor ignores environmental protocols, your permit is at risk. We have seen too many cases where a principal company claims ignorance while a subcontractor cuts corners. That excuse no longer holds. The Minerals Commission now holds the licence holder accountable for every actor on their concession. This is our position: maintain HSE standards across all partnerships or be prepared to bear the full weight of the law,” he warned.
