As part of the Accra - Kumasi Highway, the road which used to be a single lane is the busiest highway in the country. It is an important commercial link between the middle portion of the country and the Capital City as well as the neighbouring landlocked countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

But it is a single lane, the traffic is also bad as it is described by Theresa Tagoe, the Deputy Minister of the Greater Accra Region.

"The traffic is always jam..."

Speaking at the ceremoney on Monday, the Chinese Premier said the project symbolised the links between the two countries.

"The road symbolizes the cooperation between China and Ghana and constitutes a new link between the two countries that have forged traditional friendship."

President Kufuor expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done by the contractors. And he asked the Chinese engineers to stay and complete the goal of a dualise the carriageway all the way to Kumasi.

"The speed and high quality of work with which the contractors, Chinese Railway Engineering Co-operation, have executed this project convince us that they must remain and be supported to contribute to the completion of the "dualisation" of the entire road."

The Chinese government gave Ghana a 180 million yuan or 22 million U.S. dollar interest-free loan for the rehabilitation and expansion of the 17 km long stretch of highway.

Wen Jiabao stressed that China has already helped Ghana with the construction of several other public facilities, including the National Theater, irrigation projects, a hospital, and camps for soldiers and police. China would remain sincere in its support for the socio-economic development efforts of the country.

Over the past 50 years, China has been involved in nearly 900 construction projects in Africa ; these include agriculture, energy, infrastructure and water conservation projects.

Yunfeng, CRI news, Accra, Ghana.