Residents of Elmina in the Central Region are on the streets protesting an order from the Minerals Commission stopping them from ‘harvesting’ gold nuggets washed ashore the Elmina beach. It was all joy when news broke early this week of the mysterious presence of gold at the beach, forcing residents to abandon all economic and social activities, including fishing, in search of instant fortune. But their joys turned into anger after the Minerals Commission ordered them to vacate the new gold site. By law minerals of any kind belong to the state and cannot be exploited by any individual in whom no such rights have been vested. The resource is to be used for the collective development of the country. Any individual with vested interest in exploiting any mineral must seek approval from the appropriate state institution. But the residents disapprove of the law and have pitched their tents at the beach digging pits and scrambling for the mysterious gold. Threats of security deployment in the area to stop them from mining the gold have sent them onto the streets in anger and protesting. Joy News Central Region correspondent Richard Kojo Nyarko said the angry protesters marched unto the streets to the chief, Nana Kojo Konduah VI’s palace seeking his approval for them to continue with their new business. A spokesperson [linguist] for the chief, told Nyarko, the protesters have been calmed. According to the linguists the chief made it clear to the angry protesters that he [chief] had no power to tell anybody to prospect for gold at the Elmina beach. The protesters, according to Nyarko, are beginning to vacate the beach, more so when national security is beginning to deploy men. Lands and Natural resources Minister, Mike Hammer, said samples of the nuggets have been taken for examination to see if they are natural and authentic. He said early next week his ministry would release the outcome of the examination. According to Mike Hammer, there would also be the education of the people on the mining law. He described the action by the residents as unfortunate with a potential to devastate the shore.