Ms Sherry Aryittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology
Loading
13th July, 2009
Mining Firms Assessment Programme In The Offing
A PROGRAMME aimed at asses-sing the legal, environmental and social performance of mining companies for public scrutiny will soon be launched, Ms Hans-Sherry Aryittey, Minister of Environ-ment, Science and Technology told Parliament on Friday.
She said the programme, environmental performance rating and disclosure dubbed: ‘Akoben’, would bring social pressure to bear on mining companies to fulfill their obligations.
Ms Aryittey said most mining companies had reneged on their obligations as required, leading to social discontent and unrest in some of the mining communities.
The minister mentioned some of the mining problems as encroachment of mining concessions by unauthorised persons, land degradation, water pollution, inadequate and non-payment of compensation as well as disruption of cultural heritage like public cemeteries and sacred groves.
Ms Aryittey was responding to a question posed by Grace Addo (NPP-Amansie West) who wanted to know whether the ministry was aware of environmental effects of surface mining at Tontokrom, Takrase and Bonteso, and what measures are being taken by the ministry to address dashes between the mining companies and her constituents to protect their lives.
The minister said there was the need to consider whether it was useful to do surface mining, given the very low revenue accruing from it.
She said the practice of allocating vast stretch of land to mining companies should be reviewed.
Mr Aryittey cited Tarkwa where, she said, a company had been given 160 square kilometers of land, adding, “by so doing the inhabitants of mining communities are deprived of arable land because they need permission from the mining companies to engage in farming”.
She said the ministry is making a proposal to cabinet to review some aspects of the minerals and mining law to correct inherent deficiencies.
Ms Aryittey said Section 67 sub-section 1 (b) of the PNDC Law 153 provides for the suspension or cancellation of a mineral right if the holder is in breach of any provision of the law or the conditions of the mineral right or the provisions of any other enactment relating to mines and minerals.
According to the minister this provision is omitted in the new law (Act 903).
On the issuing of environmental permits, Ms Aryittey said Section 46 sub-section 4 (b) of PNDCL 153 states that “a mining lease shall not be granted to an applicant unless the proposed programme of mining operations submitted by the applicant takes proper account of environmental safety factors”.
She said in Act 703 Section 18, sub-section (1), before undertaking an activity or operation under a mineral right the holder of the mineral right shall obtain the necessary approval and permits from the Forestry Commission and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the protection of natural resources, public health and environment.
“Madam Speaker said this provision allows applicants to secure mining lease even before they have been cleared by the EPA,” she said.
Ms Aryittey said the ministry has recommended the need for upward review of the three (3) per cent royalty payment to enable the government to obtain more revenue to commit more into community development to reduce the agitation from mining companies.
The House later approved the proposed formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to licensed district mutual health insurance schemes for 2009.
The Minister of State for Youth and Sports, Rashid Pelpuo made a statement on the occasion of World Population Day on July 11 under the theme, ‘Responding to the economic crisis: Investing in women is a smart choice’.
She said the programme, environmental performance rating and disclosure dubbed: ‘Akoben’, would bring social pressure to bear on mining companies to fulfill their obligations.
Ms Aryittey said most mining companies had reneged on their obligations as required, leading to social discontent and unrest in some of the mining communities.
The minister mentioned some of the mining problems as encroachment of mining concessions by unauthorised persons, land degradation, water pollution, inadequate and non-payment of compensation as well as disruption of cultural heritage like public cemeteries and sacred groves.
Ms Aryittey was responding to a question posed by Grace Addo (NPP-Amansie West) who wanted to know whether the ministry was aware of environmental effects of surface mining at Tontokrom, Takrase and Bonteso, and what measures are being taken by the ministry to address dashes between the mining companies and her constituents to protect their lives.
The minister said there was the need to consider whether it was useful to do surface mining, given the very low revenue accruing from it.
She said the practice of allocating vast stretch of land to mining companies should be reviewed.
Mr Aryittey cited Tarkwa where, she said, a company had been given 160 square kilometers of land, adding, “by so doing the inhabitants of mining communities are deprived of arable land because they need permission from the mining companies to engage in farming”.
She said the ministry is making a proposal to cabinet to review some aspects of the minerals and mining law to correct inherent deficiencies.
Ms Aryittey said Section 67 sub-section 1 (b) of the PNDC Law 153 provides for the suspension or cancellation of a mineral right if the holder is in breach of any provision of the law or the conditions of the mineral right or the provisions of any other enactment relating to mines and minerals.
According to the minister this provision is omitted in the new law (Act 903).
On the issuing of environmental permits, Ms Aryittey said Section 46 sub-section 4 (b) of PNDCL 153 states that “a mining lease shall not be granted to an applicant unless the proposed programme of mining operations submitted by the applicant takes proper account of environmental safety factors”.
She said in Act 703 Section 18, sub-section (1), before undertaking an activity or operation under a mineral right the holder of the mineral right shall obtain the necessary approval and permits from the Forestry Commission and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the protection of natural resources, public health and environment.
“Madam Speaker said this provision allows applicants to secure mining lease even before they have been cleared by the EPA,” she said.
Ms Aryittey said the ministry has recommended the need for upward review of the three (3) per cent royalty payment to enable the government to obtain more revenue to commit more into community development to reduce the agitation from mining companies.
The House later approved the proposed formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to licensed district mutual health insurance schemes for 2009.
The Minister of State for Youth and Sports, Rashid Pelpuo made a statement on the occasion of World Population Day on July 11 under the theme, ‘Responding to the economic crisis: Investing in women is a smart choice’.
Popular stories from Other Headlines
