Production of diamond in Ghana fell by a significant 33% during the first-half year of 2012, according to a report by the Ghana Chamber of Mines released August 17, 2012.

Diamond purchases dipped significantly at 33% from 185, 557 carats in the first half of 2011 to 123, 699 carats of the same period in 2012, the Chamber said in its 2012 half-year performance of the mining industry report.

The report indicated that the mineral recorded an output of 80,988 and 42,711 carats during the first and second quarters of 2012 respectively.

Revenue from diamond during the half-year also fell 28%. It recorded $7,020,479 revenue in 2012 as against $9,720,844 in the 2011 period.