THE Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Yendi in the Northern Region, Sugri Muniru, has described the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project as a transformational initiative that is improving the lives of people in beneficiary communities.
The project, an initiative of the World Bank, is being implemented in collaboration with the Government of Ghana across six regions, including the five regions within the northern ecological zone.
Mr Muniru said since its inception five years ago, the project had addressed many developmental challenges faced by communities in the beneficiary areas.
He made the remarks during a workshop on the dissemination of research findings on social accountability mechanisms in the Northern and Oti regions under the SOCO project. The workshop brought together Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) from the two regions.
The event was organised by Grameen Ghana with funding support from the SOCO project.
• Mr Muniru (middle) with the Officials of SOCO and the MMDAs after the workshop
Mr Muniru said the impact of the project had been significant, particularly in infrastructure development and economic empowerment.
He explained that several Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds had been constructed in deprived communities across beneficiary districts and municipalities, improving healthcare delivery in those areas.
He added that the project had also supported the education sector through the construction of classroom blocks in several communities.
The MCE further noted that the project had improved economic livelihoods in the municipality. He cited a market constructed in Yendi, which he said had boosted economic activities in the municipality and surrounding communities.
Mr Muniru said the project had also empowered women economically by organising them into small groups to receive support for activities such as soup preparation, rice processing and soybean production.
“Our mothers who used to stay at home without work now have something to do. Through the SOCO project, they are able to support their husbands and help take care of their children’s education,” he said.
He noted that although he had been in office for only a year, the impact of the SOCO project in the municipality was evident.
Mr Muniru commended officials of the SOCO project and the Government of Ghana for their support and urged them to sustain the initiative to help bridge the development gap between northern and southern Ghana.
The Programme Manager of Grameen Ghana, Mumin Musah, said the project had significantly improved the lives of women and youth in beneficiary communities.
According to him, the project had led to a 26 per cent increase in production levels and a 262 per cent increase in income among beneficiaries.
Mr Musah said the results showed that combining economic interventions with improved service delivery could lead to meaningful transformation in the lives of vulnerable people. He, however, emphasised the need to strengthen community participation in the planning and implementation of the project and improve information sharing to further enhance its impact.
FROM YAHAYA NUHU NADAA, YENDI
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