An $18.5 million investment under phase I of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Projects has significantly improved the lives of thousands in Northern Ghana. The project, aimed at economically empowering communities and increasing their resilience to vulnerabilities, has completed 530 infrastructure projects in its first year.
From the construction of roads and classroom blocks to the provision of healthcare and clean water, the SOCO project has made a tangible difference in the five northern regions and Oti region.
Projects nearing completion
Among projects nearing completion are 42 roads, 66 classrooms blocks and teachers’ accommodations, 74 rural markets, 55 health facilities, and 211 water facilities, including mechanised boreholes, boreholes with hand pumps, and small-town water systems.
260,000 beneficiaries
Over are directly benefitting from these initiatives, with many more expected to be impacted in the project communities.
The Minister of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, highlighted the project’s achievements.
3,748 jobs created
“The SOCO project has created 3,748 jobs for community members through their participation in the construction of community infrastructure projects, enhanced the capacity of 4,709 local development actors, including MMDA staff and community members in local development planning and management, and provided technical and financial support to 9,954 farmers and rural enterprises,” he noted.
The SOCO project’s focus on community engagement and participation has been a key factor in its success.
By involving local stakeholders in the decision-making process, the project has ensured that the needs and priorities of the community are being addressed.
As the SOCO project enters its second phase beginning September 2024, the Local Government Minister described the outlook as “promising and bright.”
With an additional $29 million investment, the project is expected to roll out even more initiatives, further solidifying its impact on the lives of the people in Northern Ghana.
Mr Adjei-Mensah Korsah called for collaboration with the media, highlighting their importance in disseminating information to the public.
The Coordinator of the SOCO Project, Elizabeth Ohenewah Agyei, noted that mechanisms to prevent conflict are being implemented, leading to enthusiasm among communities and increased participation in decision-making.
1,400 beneficiary communities
“The projects have been prioritized to meet the needs of the people. Every project is making an impact, and the people in the 1,400 beneficiary communities are so happy with that,” she explained.
$450m World Bank-sponsored initiative
The Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) is a $450 million World Bank-sponsored initiative being rolled out in four countries: Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Ghana gets $150m
In Ghana, the project, with an estimated cost of $150 million, is being implemented in 48 Municipal and District Assemblies across six regions: Northern, Savannah, Upper West, Upper East, North East, and Oti regions.
The ambitious project seeks to proactively prevent the spread of conflict from the Sahel, reduce the vulnerabilities of exposed border communities by investing in essential social services and infrastructure, and provide economic opportunities to improve youth employability prospects.
It also aims to strengthen local institutions to give people a voice and improve public trust.
