The West African nation of Ghana is due to pump its first oil after the discovery of the offshore¹ Jubilee² Field three years ago.

西非国家加纳开始从朱比利油田抽取第一桶石油，据悉该近海油田早在三年之前就已经被发现。

Ghana's offshore oil fields are estimated to contain about 3bn barrels
A consortium（财团，联合） led by UK-based Tullow Oil hopes to produce 55,000 barrels per day, increasing to 120,000 barrels in six months.

Ghana, one of Africa's most stable countries, is expected to earn $400m (£254m) in the first year.

But laws meant to govern the oil sector³ have not yet been passed.

The discovery of oil off Ghana's coast has raised questions about whether Ghana can escape the "resource curse", where discoveries of valuable commodities（商品，日用品） fuels conflict and corruption⁴ instead of funding development.

The oil is to start flowing following a ceremony attended by President John Atta Mills.

Analysts⁵ have raised concerns about the lack of laws to manage oil revenue and the lack of an independent regulator for the sector.

The government has said it is working to get an oil bill passed.

The government has forecast that the oil will boost Ghana's economic growth rate from 5% this year to as much as 12% next year.

Production is eventually expected to bring in $1bn annually⁶, but Ghana's cocoa and gold already bring in billions annually.

The Jubilee Field is estimated to hold 1.5bn barrels of oil. A second offshore field was discovered in September that is believed to hold another 1.4bn barrels.

The fields are some of the largest oil deposits found in recent years.