The newly appointed Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCES) and their Coordinating Directors in the Upper West region have concluded a three-day orientation workshop to enhance their knowledge on the implementation of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (SOCO).
The workshop, organized by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, was held at the Fanco Hotel in Wa on Friday, August 22, 2025. The purpose of the workshop was to equip the MMDCES with the necessary knowledge to direct the proper and accurate implementation of the SOCO project in their various assemblies within the region.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing, stated that the workshop aimed to provide the MMDCES with a fair understanding of the SOCO project and its implementation. He emphasized that the MMDCES, as political figures, are responsible for ensuring the successful implementation of the project in their respective operational areas.
The Minister explained that the SOCO project is anchored on the principles of inclusive development, local capacity building, and targeted socio-economic interventions aimed at improving livelihoods, infrastructure, and service delivery. He added that the beneficiary districts would ensure that activities at the district level align with regional and national development frameworks.
Project Coordinator of SOCO, Mad. Elizabeth Ohenewah Agyei, stressed that the success or failure of the project largely depends on the MMDCES’ ability to understand the project’s modules and coordinate its implementation at the local level. She urged them to facilitate the successful implementation of the project to help bridge development gaps, especially in deprived communities.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Wa, Alhaj Nurah Issa Dawsana, on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs for organizing the training workshop to deepen their knowledge on SOCO projects.
The Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project is a World Bank-supported initiative aimed at preventing conflict spillover from the Sahel by improving social and economic resilience in targeted regions of the Gulf of Guinea, primarily Ghana. The project strengthens regional dialogue and enhances the resilience of communities in the northern areas, which are vulnerable to instability from neighboring Sahelian countries.
By: Romanus Bombe Kyi-Era
