185M Investment Results Local Govt Minister Touts SOCO Project Phase 1

42 Roads. . . .

66 Classroom Blocks & Teachers’ Accommodations. . . .

74 Rural Markets. . . . 

55 Health Facilities, and 211 Water Facilities. . . . .Have All Been Completed Successfully.

Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation And Rural Development, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah has disclosed that the phase of I of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohession (SOCO) Projects, launched by the NPP government has brought immense improvement to the lives of many Ghanaians living the five northern regions as well as the Oti region.

The SOCO Project, which is aimed at strengthening local resilience by investing in climate adaptive economic opportunities, has thus far, made a tremendous impact in the lives of the people in the rural communities, especially the communities within the catchment areas of the northern regions and Oti region.

According to the sector minister, an $18.5 million investment made under the phase I of the SOCO Projects has brought significant improvements to the lives of thousands of people in Northern Ghana.

Some of the Projects undertaken by the executors of the SOCO projects range from the constructing of roads and classroom blocks to providing access to healthcare and clean water, thereby making a visible difference in the five northern and Oti regions.

Reports gathered from the project revealed that 42 roads, 66 classroom 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, have all been completed successfully.

Speaking to the press at a Press Soiree at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, the minister, who is also the member of Parliament for Techiman South in the Bono region, stated that, “This project seeks to prevent the spread of conflicts within the Sahel region of which Ghana  is one, and then decrease the vulnerability of the communities exposed to these conflicts or extremism and invest in essential services and infrastructure , economic opportunities, all aimed at improving the lives of our people and the prospects of those local communities to improve on their living conditions.”


The minister further noted that, the first phase of the project has been done successfully, adding that the second phase will include more road constructions, classroom blocks, teachers’ bungalows for accommodation, rural markets, health facilities and water facilities.

“For us a government, we attach a lot of importance to these projects. Government has a responsibility of providing infrastructure in our country, especially where they are needed most, but these projects do not come as high profiled-projects, they come as tiny projects which may not attract the excitement and the needed attention,” he said.

In terms of job creations, the SOCO project has provided direct jobs to about 4,095 local people through their involvement in the execution of the projects in their communities by engaging the local workforce for the construction of infrastructure projects.

The SOCO project has thus far, paid over 5 million Ghana cedis to the local workforce. 

In Ghana, the project, with an estimated cost of US$150 million, is being implemented in 48 Municipal and District Assemblies across six regions, including the Northern, Savannah, Upper West, Upper East, North East and Oti regions.

The 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. Everyone project is making an impact and the people in the 1,400 beneficiary communities are so happy with that”, she explained

Kobina Darlington/