A total of 243 Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) projects are commissioned across the 15 Municipalities and Districts for use by beneficiary communities.
The projects included Health Centres, school blocks, market sheds, lorry stations, youth centres, water and sanitation facilities, roads, CHPS compounds among others.
Speaking at Pelungu in the Nabdam District to commission a Health Centre and a shed at the lorry station, the Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Alhaji Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, said the various infrastructural projects under the SOCO project in the Region were the largest initiative by government under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
He said the projects would positively impact on the lives of the beneficiary communities which hitherto had to travel long distances to access services.
The Minister said government sourced funding of 150 million dollars from the World Bank to provide some basic amenities for the five northern regions and the Oti region.
He dispelled rumors that the SOCO project was an NGO initiative, and described such rumors as a “fat lie”, and urged the various communities to own the facilities and maintain them to last long.
Alhaji Dr. Bin Salih urged the chiefs and community members to vote for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Flag bear, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia in order to maintain and continue the projects to improve upon the living conditions of Ghanaians.
The Minister announced that for 2024/2025, a total of 323 new SOCO projects were at various procurement stages.
He added that 24,000 Local Economy Development (LED) which would benefit women, People with Disability (PWD) and youth, would improve on their livelihoods and therefore, urged the various Municipal and District Chief Executives to endeavour to select qualified people to take advantage of the facilities.
“Once the due processes are done before the end of this month, all the 323 projects will be rolled out. We are doing this because we want our people to benefit and grow, therefore, we need the support of all and sundry to achieve the ideal of SOCO,” he told the gathering.