Mining companies from four West African countries are joining forces to strengthen regional mine rescue capabilities and improve emergency preparedness through the maiden West Africa Mine Rescue and Emergency Response Competition (WAMRERC 2026), hosted by AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi Mine and Endeavour Mining.
The five-day competition brings together mine rescue and emergency response teams from Ghana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal to test their technical capabilities, exchange expertise and strengthen their readiness to respond to emergencies in mining operations.
Held under the theme, “Together, Saving Lives Through Preparedness and Excellence,” the initiative seeks to promote collaboration among mining companies and build a stronger regional network of mine rescue professionals capable of supporting one another during emergencies.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, Dr Samuel Boakye Pobee, said the competition offered an opportunity to establish lasting partnerships, strengthen technical capacity and improve cooperation among mine rescue teams across the region.
He stressed that the event should go beyond winning trophies to deliver practical improvements in emergency response and reinforce the industry’s commitment to protecting human lives.
Dr Pobee said the success of the mining industry should not be measured solely by its economic contributions but also by its ability to protect workers and surrounding communities.
He urged participants to use the competition to learn from one another, improve their competencies and strengthen their shared commitment to mine safety.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, also called for greater emphasis on protecting human life, noting that the industry’s contributions to mineral production, investment, employment and national development would mean little if workers could not return home safely after their shifts.
He reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to promoting a strong safety culture across the mining industry and encouraged participating teams to use the competition to assess their capabilities, identify gaps and improve their collective response to emergencies.
Beyond the competitive exercises, WAMRERC 2026 provides a platform for professional networking, knowledge exchange and the development of a more coordinated mine rescue network across West Africa.
The initiative underscores the importance of cooperation among mining companies, particularly in emergency preparedness and response, where protecting human life remains a shared responsibility regardless of commercial competition.
