Tamale: A total of 48 development projects have been completed in the Northern Region as part of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) project. Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, Northern Regional Minister, announced this at a press briefing in Tamale, stating that the projects spanned various sectors and have significantly transformed the lives of the communities involved.

According to Ghana News Agency, the projects included the construction of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, health facilities, information and communication technology facilities, classroom blocks, market sheds, and feeder roads, among others. The press conference also featured a team from the National Programme Implementation Unit of the SOCO project, who presented on the project’s impact on the beneficiary communities.

Alhaji Saibu mentioned that the projects in the Saboba District and Yendi Municipality have been handed over to the respective communities and institutions, while the remaining projects are schedul
ed to be handed over during the week. He emphasized the profound changes these projects have brought, describing them as a significant improvement in the lives of beneficiaries.

The SOCO project is being executed by the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development with funding from the World Bank. The initiative aims to ensure the resilience of communities in the northern border regions of the country. Alhaji Saibu noted that the projects not only provided physical infrastructure but also created job opportunities for the people in these communities.

He further disclosed that under phase two of the SOCO project, 73 additional projects focusing on educational infrastructure, electricity, parks, health, and more would be undertaken in the region. Mr. Samuel Forson, Tamale Zonal Coordinator for the SOCO project, remarked that some of the completed projects have addressed longstanding developmental challenges, offering significant relief to the residents.