The Ghana Chamber of Mines says the view that mining companies are destroying agriculture in the country is not borne out by the fact. The Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) had recently raised concern about the large tracts of agricultural lands currently under mining concession. It said government had granted more than 200 mining leases with mining companies holding 30 per cent of the country's land surface area with grave consequences for agriculture and livelihoods of people in the communities. However, in a statement signed by Ahmed Nantogmah, Director Public Affairs of the Chamber of Mines, the mining leases of the 14 major mining operations take up less than two per cent of the country’s total land area. The Chamber maintained that a lease merely means a legal right and government approval to potentially mine and does not mean that active mining is taking place. “In addition, for most of these projects, only a portion of the leases are needed for active mining and ancillary infrastructure and activity.” For instance, the Newmont Ahafo mine only takes up 6% of its lease. Farming is still carried out on the unutilized portions of the leases, the statement said. The Chamber said official government records had shown that agricultural production had been on the increase during the period when gold production had increased four fold between 1990 and 2006. “If mining were ‘killing agriculture’, it is hard to see how both could increase at the same time. Against these facts, we submit that WACAM’s claims are not supported by the facts.” As part of the community relations, the Chamber of Mines said mining companies are working with several NGOs on agricultural projects that will enhance the productivity and incomes of farmers in the mining areas. These include agricultural enhancement programmes which seek to increase the levels of agricultural produce and enhance at the same time, market access for local farmers. For instance, out of the 3,000 farmers who were affected by the establishment of the mine and compensated by Newmont, over 78% have participated in the Newmont Agricultural Improvement and Land Access programme and are now back on the land farming. “In our books, this represents a productive economic use of Ghana’s land that in turn provides employment for thousands of people as well as taxes, royalties, dividends. The industry also expends millions of dollars on goods and services in the country. More pertinently, once mining is completed, most of the land will be reclaimed and returned for other uses including farming.” On resettlement, the Chamber of Mines said it was done in a fully democratic, representative and transparent fashion. “This is a practice which we are seeking to enhance even more with increased collaboration and dialogue to ensure that impacted people participate in every aspect of the planning and the decision-making for the desired end.” While admitting that mining impacts on the environment, the Chamber said the mining companies were strictly regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that they mitigate any environmental and social impacts. Also a new and innovative environmental rating system is being implemented to assess and publicly disclose each mine’s environmental performance. In addition, member companies of the Chamber are using industry-leading practices whenever they emerge for environmental protection. These include lined tailings storage, secondary containment for pipes and fuel storage, Isotainers for cyanide transport, cyanide recovery circuits, concurrent reclamation and extensive sediment control structures. All these initiatives were unknown to those who operated our mines in the immediate past. The Chamber and its members have partnered with Conservation International and other NGOs to develop ways to protect and enhance biodiversity on mining concessions and mined out areas.” On mining in forest reserves, the Chamber said only five projects are engaged in working in productive forest reserves. The total land take in these reserves is less than 0.2 per cent of the forest reserves in Ghana. The Chamber said it recognized the role of ‘watchdog’ organizations and will continue to engage with as many of them as possible to join it to create the basis for an even more socio-economically productive mining industry in Ghana. “We however believe that the dialogue needs to be undertaken in an honest, transparent and factual and productive manner,” it added. Source: GNA