According to Ghana News Agency:rojects have been implemented in the Upper West Region, spanning various sectors including roads, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), health, and education infrastructure. These efforts are geared towards improving the livelihoods of local communities. Mr. Yakubu shared these updates during a media engagement in Wa, organized by the SOCO secretariat to inform stakeholders about the project’s progress.
The SOCO project is funded by a $150 million IDA/World Bank credit facility and is being executed across 48 districts in the Upper West, Upper East, Northern, North East, Savannah, and Oti Regions. The primary objective of the project is to enhance community cohesion and improve living conditions in these areas. In total, 530 infrastructural sub-projects are being rolled out across all participating regions, including the Upper West Region.
Mr. Yakubu highlighted that approximately GHS184,777,742 has been invested in strategic infrastructure projects, local economic development, a
nd youth engagement activities under the SOCO initiative. The President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, along with Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, have shown significant commitment to the project, recognizing its potential positive impact on the nation’s populace.
Due to the project’s evident success, the government is contemplating a request for additional financing. This would expand the project’s reach to the 16 remaining districts that have not yet benefited from the initiative in the six regions currently involved. Mr. Yakubu expressed optimism about extending the project’s advantages to these areas.
Mr. David Yankey, the Wa Zonal Coordinator of SOCO, provided a detailed presentation on the project’s regional achievements. He mentioned specific sub-projects including four educational facilities, a health equipment supply in Nandom, two library projects, a teacher’s quarters, two furniture supplies, 43 water facilities, and a goat market road at Babile.
Additionally, Mrs. Cedonia Dere, a Local Economic
Development Specialist, noted the substantial impact of these sub-projects on society and local livelihoods. She emphasized that the projects are tailored to mitigate conflicts and violence, which are key factors affecting the security situation along the nation’s borders.
