Section 317A - Smuggling of gold, diamond

(1) Despite any law to the contrary, a person who

(a) without lawful authority, the proof of which lies on that person, exports or attempts to export gold or diamond; or

(b) conceals or carries away from the Republic gold or diamond with intent to evade an enactment relating to the export of gold or diamond,

commits a criminal offence and is liable on conviction to a sentence of life imprisonment, and the gold or diamond, in respect of which the criminal offence was committed shall be forfeited to the Republic.

(2) The President may, by legislative instrument, apply subsection (1) to any other minerals specified in the instrument.

(3) For the purposes of this section

“diamond” means a rough and uncut diamond of Ghanaian origin;

“gold” includes gold bullion, retorted gold, gold ore, gold amalgam, gold alloy, precipitates containing gold, slag, concentrates, tailings and residues, and gold dust but not the articles manufactured of gold and in reasonable quantities the proof of which lies on the person alleging reasonableness.