ACCRA. Oct 9: Ghana s gold Sreduction and earnings for the rst half of the year showed an increase of 20 per cent over 1997 results, according to mines department figures, reports AFP.

Receipts from gold production in the period are expected to total 324.78 million dollars, compared with 260.17 million dollars in the first half of 1997, the department said in a report published yesterday

Gold output for the first semester of 1998 totalled 971,985 fine ounces, compared with 718,640 fine ounces from January to June 1997 By December 1997, output reached 1.57 million fine ounces, the report said.