(1) A prison officer who deserts shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty cedis or to imprisonment not exceeding three months, or to both.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a prison officer deserts, who leaves or fails to attend at his place of duty with the intention of remaining permanently absent from duty without proper authority or if, having left or failed to attend at his place of duty in any circumstances, he does any act with the like intention.

(3) A person who has been absent without authority for a continuous period of twenty-one days or more shall, unless the contrary is proved, be presumed to have deserted for the purposes of this section.