Tamale: Mr. Ali Adolf John, the Northern Regional Minister, has called on Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the region to demonstrate transparency, accountability, and strong leadership in the implementation of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project. He made this call during an orientation workshop in Tamale, which included MMDCEs from the Northern and Oti Regions.
According to Ghana News Agency, the SOCO Project is a five-year initiative between the Government of Ghana and the World Bank. It aims to strengthen the resilience of border communities by addressing the root causes of violence and instability. The project focuses on inclusive development, capacity building, and targeted socio-economic interventions to improve livelihoods, infrastructure, and service delivery in underserved communities.
Mr. John highlighted the Northern Region’s unique development challenges, such as vast geographical areas with many deprived communities, overdependence on climate-vulnerable agriculture, and infrastructure gaps restricting access to vital services. He emphasized the timeliness of the SOCO Project in addressing these issues and urged MMDCEs to lead and coordinate all project activities within their jurisdictions, ensure the judicious use of resources, champion participatory planning and budgeting, and provide timely progress reports.
The Minister stressed the importance of project ownership by beneficiary communities to ensure sustainability. He expressed hope that the orientation workshop would mark the beginning of a renewed era of local government-led development in the Northern Region and reaffirmed the commitment of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to align with MMDAs activities by providing leadership, technical support, and quality assurance for the project’s success.
Madam Elizabeth Ohenewah Agyei, National Project Coordinator of the SOCO Project, explained that the orientation is part of the third phase of the project. It is designed to equip MMDCEs with the necessary knowledge and practical tools to effectively implement the project at the district level. She noted that the project’s success largely depends on how well MMDCEs understand the modules and coordinate them with their district development plans.
Mr. Bright Atiase, Chief Planning Analyst at the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), emphasized the importance of grassroots participation in planning. He urged MMDCEs to prioritize community inclusion in their development frameworks, stating that inclusive planning is key to achieving equitable and sustainable national development. He remarked that development is meaningful only when it reflects the voices of the people and that involving local communities strengthens ownership and enhances accountability.
Mr. Sugri Muniru, Municipal Chief Executive for Yendi, praised the initiative, noting that it will equip them with the information necessary to implement and sustain development in their communities.