Mr Robin Mearns, Director, Global Department for Social Development, World Bank, has expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) project.
He said: “The project is making tremendous progress. In just two years of the five-year implementation period, 40 per cent of the funds has been disbursed, and targets are already being exceeded.”
Mr Mearns said this at a stakeholders’ forum in Tamale to assess the progress and impact of the SOCO project on the Northern Region.
The forum was attended by representatives from the World Bank, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs amongst other implementing partners of the project.
Development projects undertaken in the region in educational and health infrastructure, water and sanitation, community roads, youth and sports, markets amongst others were presented during the forum.
The SOCO project, an initiative of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and funded by the World Bank, seeks to promote social cohesion and economic resilience along the country’s northern border regions.
Mr Mearns said, “As Director of the Global Department for Social Development, I am convinced of the need to expand this project to strengthen community support systems and improve livelihoods.”
Mr Ali Adolf John, Northern Regional Minister, said the SOCO project would enhance infrastructure development and improve the quality of life for communities. He appealed to the World Bank to consider scaling up the project to improve and sustain the gains made so far.
Mr Samuel Seth Passah, Director, Local Governance and Decentralisation, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, commended the World Bank for supporting the government’s efforts to improve rural development.
Source: GNA
