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Presidents John Dramani Mahama and Faure Gnassingb� jointly inaugurated commissioned the Ghana-Togo railway yesterday, promising that the two countries would continue to show the way in what effective collaboration can do. Built at the cost of $8 million, the project was a collaboration between Diamond Cement Ghana Limited and Togo Rail Company with the support of the Ghana Railway Company. The 3km rail line connects the factory at Aflao in Ghana to the Togo railway network, giving the Diamond Cement Ghana Limited access to the Lome Port. The rail line will ensure easy delivering of clinker and other raw materials for cement production from the Lome Port to the cement factory at Aflao. It will also ensure the easy transportation of the finished product from the factory to the port and into the country for distribution to other areas. An added advantage of the project is that it will decongest the main road linking Lome and Aflao. The joint commission of the project climaxed activities of the Togolese leader's three-day state visit to Ghana. Diamond Cement, which started production in 2002, is one of the leading cement companies in Ghana. Growing Ghana -Togo relations Speaking at the ceremony, President Mahama said the project was yet another testimony of the growing relations between Ghana and Togo. He said if more of such projects were provided, they would propel the development of the two countries and the West African sub-region to a higher level. President Mahama said already, Ghana and Togo were showing the way as typified in the recent opening of a joint border post at Noepe. "We have the political will to do more for our people," he added. President Mahama further stated that the project was also a testimony of what an enabling environment created for the private sector to grow could do. He was particularly impressed about the durability of the project and commended Diamond Cement and Ghana Railway Company for the initiative. The President said the visit of Mr Gnassingb� had raised the relations between the two countries to a higher level. He mentioned the decision of the two countries to operate a 24-hour border post as one of the important decisions reached at the bilateral discussions. More collaboration President Gnassingb� also spoke passionately about Ghana - Togo relations and said he looked forward to more collaboration to boost trade and other legitimate activities. He said the peoples of Ghana and Togo stood to benefit from the good relations between the countries. The Chairman of Togo Rail Company, Mr Prasad Motaparti, traced the history of the company and the new rail project, saying that the eventual winners would be the peoples of the two countries. He said the project was a good example of what good neighbourliness could do. The Paramount Chief of Aflao, Togbui Amenya Fiti V, said the project would further open up the area for development.