Former District Chief Executive for Builsa South, Daniel Kwame Gariba, has written an open letter to the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri, seeking clarification on the status of the Gulf of Guinea Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project, which he says appears to have stalled for more than a year.
In the letter, Mr. Gariba expressed concern on behalf of residents across the region, noting that the project was introduced under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia to promote holistic development in vulnerable communities, particularly in northern Ghana and border areas exposed to insecurity from the Sahel region.
According to him, it has been one year and two months since activities under the SOCO Project appeared to have come to a halt, raising concerns among residents and key stakeholders in the Upper East Region.
The World Bank-funded Gulf of Guinea Social Cohesion Project is a five-year initiative launched in 2023 to promote social cohesion, prevent violent extremism, improve access to basic services, create economic opportunities, and strengthen local governance structures in beneficiary districts.
Mr. Gariba noted that the project was designed to foster unity by strengthening trust and cooperation among communities while reducing tensions across ethnic, religious, and social lines. It also aimed to address the root causes of violent extremism by tackling poverty, marginalization, and youth unemployment, particularly in border communities.
The initiative further sought to improve access to essential services through investments in schools, health facilities, water systems, and road infrastructure. It also supported youth and women through skills training and income-generating programs to enhance livelihoods, while building the capacity of district assemblies and promoting citizen participation in local development planning.
Mr. Gariba stated that during the first two years of implementation, from 2023 to 2024, the project recorded significant progress across all 15 districts in the Upper East Region. He said visible improvements were made in health, education, road infrastructure, water and sanitation, job creation, and capacity building, with targeted support for women and youth.
He added that the Upper East Region reportedly received approximately GH¢150 million annually under the project.
However, Mr. Gariba raised concerns that following the recent change in government, the project appears to have been placed on hold without public explanation.
He said the situation has created anxiety among residents and contractors who executed projects under the 2024 phase. According to him, several contractors who completed or are nearing completion of their assigned works have submitted certificates for payment but have allegedly not been paid for more than a year.
Mr. Gariba therefore called on the regional minister, as the government’s chief representative in the region, to provide clarity to chiefs and residents regarding the status of the SOCO Project and the reasons behind its apparent suspension.
He emphasized that the people of the Upper East Region deserve transparency and reassurance on a project widely regarded as critical to the region’s development and security.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
