The World Bank is rolling out the second cycle of 680 subprojects. These projects are part of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project. The initiative targets 48 districts across six regions in Ghana.
These regions include Upper East, West, Northern, Savannah, North East, and Oti.
The SOCO project is being implemented through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. It is designed to tackle drivers of fragility. The project aims to enhance access to essential services. It also promotes economic and social inclusion. This is particularly important for vulnerable groups, such as youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
This regional initiative involves Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin and aims to strengthen community resilience in the northern corridor. The project focuses on five key components: community infrastructure investments, livelihood and youth support, and institutional capacity building.
Ms. Elizabeth Dwamena, the SOCO Project Communication Specialist, shared the initiative’s details in an interview with The Ghanaian Times in Tamale.
She explained that the SOCO project represents Ghana’s strategy for addressing fragility, conflict risks, and climate vulnerabilities in border-zone communities.
During the first cycle of implementation, the project successfully delivered 530 community infrastructure subprojects. Of these, 489 were completed and handed over to the communities early in 2025.
She highlighted that these projects focused on critical areas such as health, education, and road connectivity. They also targeted water and market infrastructure. These efforts significantly improved the quality of life for residents in remote and underserved communities.
“The first cycle also saw the creation of over 6,200 jobs—both interim and permanent—benefiting especially women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs), who had been central to the project’s inclusive approach,” she noted.
Looking ahead, Ms. Dwamena emphasised that the second cycle of the project would build on these successes. The focus will be on enhancing community engagement and expanding access to social services.
In the Northern Region, districts such as Karaga, Saboba, and Gushegu are seeing benefits. Yendi, Tatale-Sanguli, and Sagnarigu are also benefitting from the construction of various facilities. These facilities include classrooms, teachers’ quarters, CHPS compounds, youth centres, and mechanised boreholes.
She mentioned that the subprojects also include road rehabilitation. They also involve constructing culverts. These efforts aim to improve connectivity between previously isolated communities.
Additionally, the project involves developing classroom facilities, cassava processing centres, ICT hubs, and school furniture. There is a strong emphasis on addressing the region’s educational, sanitation, and water needs. The project also fosters local agro-processing and entrepreneurship.
Ms. Dwamena elaborated on the significant health sector interventions and projects. These projects are aimed at early childhood education, markets, and sports infrastructure. They also focus on community roads and water access.
She further disclosed details about other projects. These include the rehabilitation of dams, livestock markets, drainage systems, and community centres. These projects are driving economic and social transformation in the region.
“Markets like the Nangbag-Yapala livestock market in the Sagnarigu Municipality provide jobs, structured trading spaces, and better services for local farmers and traders,” she said.
She explained that each subproject is the result of thorough community needs assessments. There is active participation from Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). Community facilitators, traditional leaders, and local residents are also involved.
“This participatory planning process ensures that the investments are demand-driven, context-specific, and locally monitored, fostering both ownership and sustainability,” she added.
Ms. Dwamena also emphasised that the second cycle of the SOCO project demonstrates the government’s broader commitment. This commitment focuses on promoting equity, stability, and inclusive growth in vulnerable communities.
She pointed out that this continued investment in infrastructure bridges development gaps. It helps mitigate the risk of conflict by improving access to services. Additionally, it creates economic opportunities.
“The SOCO Project exemplifies how strategic, community-driven investments can bridge development divides, foster social cohesion, and safeguard communities from the spillover effects of regional conflict and climate threats,” she concluded.
By focusing on deliberate planning, local partnerships, and resilience, the Government of Ghana demonstrates that inclusive development is achievable. It is crucial for ensuring lasting peace and prosperity.
