Section 18—Conversion of Patent Applications or Applications for Utility Model Certificates. (1) Prior to the grant or refusal of a patent, an applicant for a patent may, upon payment of the prescribed fee, convert the applicant's application into an application for a utility model certificate, which shall be accorded the filing date of the initial application. (2) Prior to the grant or refusal of a utility model certificate, an applicant for a utility model certificate may, upon payment of the prescribed fee, convert the applicant's application into a patent application, which shall be accorded the filing date of the initial application. (3) An application may not be converted under subsection (1) more than once. PART III—INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS UNDER THE TREATY Section 19—Filing Date and Effects of International Application Designating Ghana. An international application designating Ghana shall, subject to this Part, be treated as an application for a patent or utility model certificate filed under this Act having as its filing date the international filing date accorded under the Treaty. Section 20—Patent Office as Receiving Office. The Patent Office shall act as receiving office in respect of an international application filed with it by a resident or national of Ghana. Section 21—Filing of International Applications. An international application shall be filed in a prescribed language with the Patent Office as receiving office and the prescribed transmittal fee shall be paid to the Patent Office. Section 22—Patent Office as Designated Office. The Patent Office shall act as a designated office in respect of an international application in which Ghana is designated for the purposes of obtaining a national patent or utility model certificate under this Act. Section 23—Patent Office as Elected Office. The Patent Office shall act as an elected office in respect of an international application in which Ghana is designated as referred to in section 22 if the applicant elects Ghana for the purposes of international preliminary examination under Chapter II of the Treaty. Section 24—National Processing.