Ghana is making plenty of effort to diversify its economy. But cocoa, gold and oil will have the biggest impact on the economy in the coming years, so for now the country is reaping the benefits of high global prices for these commodities.

Ghana’s finance minister, Kwabena Duffuor, is focusing on maintaining the economy’s momentum. He is also at the forefront of efforts to ensure the country’s recently discovered oil riches are not squandered.

The discovery of oil has turned Ghana into one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Ghana knows it has plenty to do to ensure the commodity remains a blessing but the early signs are good.

Ghana’s banks have benefited from a booming economy over the past 18 months, but they may have to start adapting to lower interest rates by expanding their capital markets services and offering more sophisticated products – or risk being bought out in a wave of consolidation.

Ghana's finance minister Kwabena Duffuor tells Brian Caplen how he is taking measures to ensure that his country's new oil wealth is spent on securing its long-term economic prosperity.

Ghana's entry into the club of African oil producers has placed its economy in the spotlight, with revenues from its up-and-coming oil industry expected to address the country's fiscal deficit. Writer Daniel Maalo