The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Sherry Ayittey, has disclosed that the ministry has begun consultation to reverse the allocation of large tracts of land to mining companies. According to her, the ministry had also initiated consultations to review some aspects of the Minerals and Mining Law and also ensure greater cooperation among the relevant regional and district security councils in combating clashes in mining communities. The minister made the disclosure in an answer to a question posed by the MP for Amansie West, Ms Grace Addo, on whether the ministry was aware of the environmental effects of surface mining at Tontokrom, Takorase and Bonteso and what measures were being taken to address the clashes between the mining companies and the constituents. Ms Ayittey commenting on the need to review the practice of allocating large tracts to mining companies, stated that in some countries, the general practice was to allocate only a portion of the land holding mineral deposits and other mining infrastructure to the companies. She said when the legal obligations were fulfilled, more land could be applied for and stressed that the practice must be the case in the country. The minister cited an example in Tarkwa where she said, "there is a company which has about 160 square kilometers of land" adding that such a practice deprived inhabitants of mining communities of arable land because they need permission from mining companies to engage in their farming activities. The minister also stated that there was the need for an upward review of the three per cent royalty payment as that would enable the government to obtain more revenue to commit more into community development in order to reduce the agitation from mining communities. Ms Ayittey stated that the ministry was indeed aware of the effects surface mining generally posed to the environment and the particular areas in question. She said some of the problems included land degradation through the loss of vegetation, loss of soil fertility, pollution of water bodies, inadequate and non-payment of compensation among others. She said the ministry through the Environmental Protection Agency had instituted a programme of environmental performance rating and disclosure dubbed 'Akoben', a programme, which "seeks to assess the legal, environmental and social performance of mining companies, rate and disclose same to the public". She expressed the opinion that such a programme would bring social pressure to bear on companies to fulfill their legal, environmental and social obligations. Story by Daniel Nkrumah/Daily Graphic