The President of the Small Scale Gold miners of Elmina, Richmond Ashfold, has appealed to the Minister of Land and Natural Resources, Mike Hammah to issue licenses to them so that they could mine for gold at the shores of Elmina.

The small scale miners told The Globe newspaper they were in support of any move by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to regulate their activities.

They have, however, pleaded with the government to allow them access to the shores of Elmina where residents have been prospecting for gold.

The grits of gold surfaced on the shores of Elmina recently. Virtually thousands of locals thronged the beaches to get their fill of gold. The Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources raised concerns about the environmental degradation that could result from the prospecting.

A recent visit to the mining site revealed that the locals have stopped mining temporarily awaiting further directives from the lands and natural resources minister and the minerals commission.

The Commission and the ministry have confirmed that the substance found at the shores of Elmina is indeed gold but of a lower grade.

Mr Hammah told The Globe newspaper efforts were being made to investigate if the deposits were of commercial significance for further decisions to be taken as to the kind of mining to be allowed there.

He commended the small-scale miners for their respect of the laws when they decided to stop the illegal mining activities.