Goldplat plc has suspended work at its Ghana gold-recovery plant for a second time after a new investigation was opened into the death of a contractor in a trench collapse.
The contractor died on Thursday, November 5, when a trench wall collapsed as he worked with colleagues at the facility. The death was disclosed by the London-listed mining services group in a regulatory filing on November 6.
Goldplat confirmed the renewed suspension in a market update issued on Tuesday, November 10. It said the latest investigation would examine the circumstances surrounding the collapse, while the company continued its own review of the accident and the safety procedures at the site.
The contractor’s identity has not been released. Goldplat said it had informed the relevant Ghanaian authorities immediately after the incident and was co-operating fully with them.
“Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones,” the company said, adding that its immediate priority was to support the bereaved family.
Operations at the plant were first stopped on November 5 while preliminary checks were carried out. Work was subsequently allowed to resume after an initial inspection, but the company has now halted activity again as the second investigation begins.
Goldplat said it expected to issue a further operational update by the end of the week. It added: “At this time, the Company does not expect any impact on its financial performance.”
The group operates in Ghana through its wholly owned subsidiary, Gold Recovery Ghana Limited. The subsidiary runs a processing plant in the Tema Free Zone industrial enclave.
The Tema facility operates alongside Goldplat’s flagship recovery plant in Benoni, South Africa. It processes gold from mining by-products, including mill liners and wood chips.
The material is supplied by major producers including AngloGold Ashanti, Newmont, Perseus and Gold Fields across West Africa and South America. Safety in the sector is overseen by the Minerals Commission.
