As Tullow breaks ranks with big oil, gas, and mining companies to disclose its earnings and payments on country-by-country and project-by-project basis, Public Agenda's Editor, Dr Steve Manteaw, who played a crucial role in the advocacy for the passage of the EU transparency legislation, joins industry watchers in asking: What new grounds will the big players cite for their resistance? The week has seen a flurry of acknowledgment and commendations for Tullow Oil for its voluntary disclosure of all its earnings and material payments to its host governments in 22 countries in 2013.

Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, through its Ahafo and Akyem mining operations, paid a total of GHC 76,783,341 for the first quarter (January - March) of 2014 to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) as tax. The tax payment is an increment of the GHC302,984,925 the leading gold mining company contributed to the government as tax, revenue in 2013.  

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has, on the recommendations of the Minerals Commission, has placed a three-month (90-day) moratorium on processing of new applications for reconnaissance and prospecting gold licenses with effect from Friday May 30.

Land has been acquired for the establishment of the first public assaying laboratory in Ghana to certify minerals for export and domestic use.

"The Commission will ensure the speedy development of the proposed assay laboratory at the airport area where land has already been acquired. This will help in ascertaining the quality and purity of gold exports from Ghana, thereby determining the actual value and the proceeds thereof that will come to government,"  the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, Dr Toni Aubynn, revealed this when he unveiled the Commission's strategic plan that is anchored on its vision and mission for the . Improvement of the country's mining industry.