Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsa
The implementation of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project seems to be making some significant impact in the five regions of the north and the Oti Region.
The $18.5million project seeks to improve the regional collaboration, socio-economic and climate resilience of border-zone communities in the target northern regions of the Gulf of Guinea countries exposed to conflict and climate risks.
At a meeting with the media over the weekend, the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, under whose Ministry the project implementation falls, said so far, SOCO has completed 530 infrastructure projects in its first year, from construction of roads and classroom blocks, to the provision of access to healthcare and clean water.
Among the completed projects, are 42 roads, 66 classrooms blocks and teachers’ accommodations, 74 rural markets, 55 health facilities, 211 water facilities, including mechanised boreholes, boreholes with hand pumps, and small-town water systems among many others.
Over 260,000 people are said to be directly benefitting from these initiatives, with many more expected to be impacted at the project communities.
Apart from that, the Minister said, “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.”
Mr. Korsah said 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 into 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 the northern parts of the country.
Mr. Korsah therefore called for collaboration with the media, highlighting their importance in the dissemination of information to the public.
On her part, Coordinator of the SOCO Project, Elizabeth Ohenewah Agyei, noted that mechanisms to prevent conflict are being exploited, leading to enthusiasm among communities and increased participation in decision-making.
“The projects have been prioritised 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.
SOCO is a $450 million World Bank sponsored initiative being rolled out in four countries, namely: Ghana, Togo, Benin and La Cote’Ivoire.
In Ghana, the project, with an estimated cost of US$150 million, is being implemented in 48 Municipal and District Assemblies across six regions, namely; Northern, Savannah, Upper West, Upper East, North East and Oti regions.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu