President John Mahama says Ghana will soon become the shining star of Africa despite the economic challenges the country is enduring.

He said he has put in place an economic advisory group bent on turning around the economic fortunes of the country.

The president made the comment during the inspection of ongoing road projects in Takoradi in the Western Region, Tuesday.

"Sekondi is becoming an important Metropolis," he stated, promising a 70km stretch of asphalt road in the Metropolis.

He said the road will be constructed in three phases till the 70km stretch is attained.

Multi TV's Presidential Correspondent Gifty Andoh Appiah who is with the president reported the cost of the project as totaling over 65 million cedis.

The project is being undertaken by a local contractor  JESMO LTD, whose head is assuring the state of value for money.

The president said the road project is an indication that despite the "economic challenges development has not stopped."

"We are constructing roads; we are extending electricity, we are providing people with good drinking water; we are building bridges; we are expanding the ports. Ghana is growing. It is going forward. It is not going back. We are going to overcome the economic challenges we are facing...The cedi will stabilise, the inflation will come down and Ghana will become the shining blackstar of Africa," he said to a thundering applause from the crowd.

The road project will be completed in 18 months, the Road Minister Inusah Fuseini assured.