Information gathered by the Economy Times indicates that, the country bagged little over US$3.1 billion in revenue from mining and quarrying activities in 2015.

The statistics further provides that, of this amount a little over US$465,000 dollars was returned to Ghana through the Bank of Ghana as mandatory surrender.

Also, a little over US$2.1 billion of the mineral revenue was returned to the country through commercial banks as voluntary repatriation.
Of the total revenue, the Ghana Revenue Authority earlier stated that US$2.6 billion was returned to Ghana which comes up to 85 percent of the total revenue accrued.

According to information published by the Ghana Chamber Mines, total fiscal payment from the US$3.1 billion amounted to US$377.3 million out of which a little over US$130 million went into mineral royalties, US$124 million into corporate tax.

Again, US$108 million went into Employee Income Tax Payments (PAYE), while US$ 234,000 went into other taxes. Meanwhile dividends paid to the state amounted to US$13 million and property rate payments amounted to US$978,000.
In other new, the Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has bemoaned the activities of illegal small-scale miners, popularly known as ‘galamsey’ operators, which are posing a threat to the security of its members.

It said if steps were not taken to stop the activities of these illegal miners, the union would withdraw its services to the industry.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the first half meeting of the National Executive Council of the union, the General Secretary, Mr Prince William Ankrah said, “considering the dangers posed by this menace and the threat to the safety and security of our members, we as a union may be compelled at any stage to withdraw labour services to the industry if this situation persists”.

He said the issue had reached an alarming proportion, forcing AngloGold Ashanti to take the government to the International Court of Arbitration.