ASSEMBLIES GET MOTORBIKES FOR SOCO PROJECT

The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu has presented 164 Solink Motorbikes to all 15 Municipal and Districts Assemblies (MDAs) in the region to monitor projects under the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project.

The Bongo and Kassena-Nankana West Districts each received 14 of the motorbikes, while the Nabdam and Bawku Municipality received eight and 16 respectively.

The remaining Municipalities and Districts each received ten, while the Regional Coordinating Council had two.

Hon. Yakubu said the motorbikes were for monitoring of the SOCO projects which would benefit the people of the Region devoid of politics.

He said 132 young beneficiary facilitators who would use the motorbikes for monitoring, were also given laptops and tablets to aid in their work.

Receiving the motorbikes on behalf his colleague Municipal and District Chief Executives, Hon. Gerard Ataogye the Chief Executive for the Kassena-Nakana West District, described the gesture as a “Game Changer”which would transform the lives of the people.

He expressed gratitude to His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Regional Minister for their tireless efforts at securing the motorbikes to help effectively monitor the implementation of all SOCO projects in their various jurisdictions.

The SOCO project is a multi-country US$450 million credit facility from the World Bank.

It would be implemented in Ghana, Togo Cote d’ Ivoire and Benin.

Forty-eight Districts in the Upper East Region, Northern, Upper West, North East, Savannah and Oti Regions would benefit from the project which was launched by His Excellency, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in Bolgatanga in November 2020.

The project, implemented by the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development would provide support to the Northern parts of the Gulf of Guinea countries with issues of climate change, conflict, volience among others.