By – Sadat Dabo

The Regent of Bimbagu in the Bunkpurugu District, Naba Karim Bagridaa, has expressed profound gratitude to the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project for improving market infrastructure in the community, while appealing for additional support to address pressing development needs

The Regent, speaking through his spokesperson, Duut Kambian, said the community was delighted to witness the impact of the project, particularly the provision of market stores that have improved conditions for local traders

He made the remarks during a community interaction session in Bimbagu on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as part of a four-day Ghana–Togo exchange programme under the SOCO Project

According to the Regent, the intervention had brought relief to traders who previously operated under difficult conditions, adding that the community was eager to see the project extend its support to other critical areas

“We are really happy that they have done something for us, and we have seen it with our own eyes,” he said through his spokesperson

On behalf of the chiefs and people of Bimbagu, Naba Karim Bagridaa pledged the community’s continued support for the project and appealed to the SOCO authorities to consider expanding the existing market facilities to accommodate more traders

He suggested that a storey building could help address the community’s growing demand for market space

Beyond the market infrastructure, the Regent identified the lack of accommodation for female students at a newly established school as another major concern, urging SOCO to consider providing a suitable hostel facility to ensure the students have a safe place to stay

He also called for support to upgrade the community’s existing health facilities, explaining that the current arrangements were inadequate to meet the healthcare needs of the growing population

The Regent acknowledged that the project might not be able to meet every request but appealed for priority attention to the most pressing needs of the community

Market store beneficiaries celebrate improved trading conditions

Meanwhile, beneficiaries of the newly constructed market stores have also praised the SOCO Project, describing the intervention as a significant improvement over the difficult conditions they previously endured

Dubik Kambot, a leader of the beneficiaries, explained that traders had formerly occupied old market buildings that were in poor condition and offered little comfort for their businesses

He said the community received the news of the proposed SOCO intervention with excitement after local authorities identified the area as suitable for the project

According to him, SOCO representatives engaged the traders throughout the process, explaining the project and ensuring they understood the proposed intervention before implementation began

He said the construction was completed within a relatively short period, allowing the beneficiaries to move into the new stores and begin enjoying improved trading conditions

“We are in there enjoying, and we really appreciate what they have done for us,” he said, while appealing for further development support for Bimbagu

Mr Kambot expressed hope that SOCO would return to the community to extend the intervention and create opportunities for more traders to benefit

His comments reinforced the Regent’s appeal for additional support, with both traditional leadership and market beneficiaries highlighting the positive impact of the project while calling for further investment in the community

SOCO promises continued engagement with communities

Responding to the concerns raised, the Ghana National SOCO Project Coordinator acknowledged the numerous development needs identified by the community but expressed optimism about the continuation of interventions under the project

The coordinator said communities would have another opportunity to identify and rank their most pressing needs through their Community Project Implementation Committees (CPICs)

He explained that the process would enable communities to prioritise essential projects within the available budgets, paving the way for further implementation

“SOCO is here to continue,” the coordinator said, assuring the gathering that community engagement and prioritisation would guide subsequent interventions

The coordinator thanked the chiefs, beneficiaries and residents for their cooperation and expressed hope that additional projects would be implemented in the coming period

The Bimbagu interaction formed part of the four-day Ghana–Togo exchange programme designed to facilitate engagement with beneficiary communities and share experiences on development interventions under the SOCO Project

The discussions highlighted both the gains recorded through improved market infrastructure and the continuing need for investments in education, healthcare and local economic development

Source – gbcuraonline.com