By – Sadat Dabo

Madam Elizabeth Ohenewah Agyei, National Coordinator of Ghana’s Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project, has emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among the four participating countries, saying the success of the regional initiative depends on every country delivering on its responsibilities

She made the remarks on Thursday, October 29, 2026, following a four-day Ghana–Togo exchange programme aimed at sharing experiences, examining project implementation and identifying practical lessons to improve development outcomes in beneficiary communities

The exchange brought together officials from Ghana and Togo to observe similarities in project execution, interact with beneficiaries and learn from approaches adopted under their respective national implementation systems

As part of the programme, the Ghanaian delegation visited Tambimongue and Tolong communities in the Mamproug/Canton cluster of the Tandjoare 2 Municipality in Togo’s Savanes Region, where they engaged community members and beneficiaries on the impact and implementation of SOCO-supported interventions

The Ghanaian team was led by Elizabeth Ohenewah Agyei, alongside the Upper East and North East zonal coordinator and other project staff

The Togolese delegation was led by Togo’s National SOCO Coordinator and the Mayor of Tandjoare 2 Municipality, Lare Dindiogue. The Assemblyman for Tambimongue, Kolani Bassoming, and other SOCO officials also participated in the engagements

Reflecting on the four-day programme, Madam Agyei described the experience in Togo as an opportunity to better understand the community-driven development approach and appreciate how local participation contributes to sustainable development

She noted that although Ghana, Togo, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire operate under different national systems and standards, their shared regional objectives require collective commitment and effective implementation by every participating country

“My impression has been simple. We are working in four countries, and everybody may think that Ghana is doing their own thing, Togo is doing their own thing, Benin is doing, Côte d’Ivoire is doing, but no country can fail because if an individual country fails to implement, it means that our original goal is not going to be achieved,” she said

She stressed that the exchange had reinforced the importance of individual accountability alongside regional cooperation.

“We have a big responsibility, collectively and most especially individually, for you not to be the one who is letting the others down,” she added

Madam Agyei maintained that Ghana remained committed to achieving the project’s objectives despite implementation challenges, noting that the collective success of SOCO depended on each country playing its part

Ghana team learns from Togo’s community-driven approach

One of the major lessons the Ghanaian team identified was Togo’s approach to community-driven development, which places local communities at the centre of identifying and prioritising development needs

Madam Agyei said the visits demonstrated the importance of ensuring that community members were consulted, included and given a voice in decisions affecting their lives

According to her, development projects are more likely to be sustained when beneficiaries feel a sense of ownership over the interventions

“The fundamental thing is that it is what the community prioritises that is done. You don’t impose or anything. And when it happens that way, the sustainability is better because ownership is very high,” she explained

She said the experience offered useful lessons for Ghana, particularly in strengthening community participation and ensuring that interventions respond to the actual needs of beneficiaries

She, however, noted that each country would continue to implement projects in accordance with its national systems and standards.

Climate-resilient classrooms among key lessons

The Ghanaian delegation also identified opportunities to improve the sustainability and climate resilience of infrastructure, particularly classroom blocks constructed under the project

Madam Agyei highlighted the positioning and orientation of classroom buildings in Togo as one of the notable observations from the visit

She explained that the design appeared to allow ventilation through open windows while reducing the direct impact of sunshine on classrooms

The observation, she said, had prompted the Ghanaian team to consider how similar design principles could help create cooler and more comfortable learning environments for children

She noted that Ghana would continue to follow Ghana Education Service standards but could also draw on practical lessons from Togo to improve infrastructure planning and performance

The coordinator said such exchanges were important because they allowed participating countries to learn from one another without abandoning their respective national requirements

Ghana considers expanding support for community football clubs

The exchange also presented an opportunity for Ghana to reflect on how sports could contribute to social cohesion and stronger community relationships

Madam Agyei explained that SOCO implementation in Ghana had involved supporting community football activities, including encouraging clubs and sponsoring tournaments

However, she said the Togolese approach to providing football kits and uniforms had presented another option that Ghana could consider

She described the provision of kits as a practical opportunity to strengthen existing clubs, particularly in northern Ghana, where many communities already have football teams

According to her, improving support for the clubs could encourage participation, promote unity and strengthen the role of sports in bringing community members together

She indicated that Ghana was considering how the approach could complement existing support for local football activities

Community participation crucial to peace and security

Madam Agyei further highlighted the importance of community trust and participation in addressing security concerns, particularly the potential spillover of violent extremism from the Sahel

She argued that while investment in formal security measures remained important, communities themselves played a critical role in identifying emerging threats and protecting their local environments

“The spillover of conflict from the Sahel is real. And one of the things that we keep forgetting is that we may spend a lot on security, but there can be no better security than the community themselves,” she said

She explained that when communities felt heard and were satisfied with the development interventions provided, they could become important partners in early warning, local peacebuilding and efforts to resist extremist activities

The coordinator’s remarks underscored the connection between inclusive development, community ownership and regional stability

The Ghana–Togo exchange therefore offered lessons beyond infrastructure delivery, highlighting how responsive development programmes could strengthen trust and contribute to peace in vulnerable communities

Four-country partnership remains central to SOCO

The Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project is a regional initiative involving Ghana, Togo, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire. It seeks to strengthen social cohesion, improve access to basic services and economic opportunities, and build resilience in vulnerable communities

In 2022, the four countries received a combined original World Bank financing allocation of US$450 million. Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire each received US$150 million, while Togo and Benin each received US$75 million

On June 25, 2026, the World Bank approved additional financing of US$163 million for Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo. The additional funding comprised US$56.5 million for Benin, US$30 million for Côte d’Ivoire and US$76.5 million for Togo. Ghana was not included in that additional financing announcement

The four-day Ghana–Togo exchange provided a platform for officials to share experiences, learn from beneficiary communities and identify approaches that could improve project implementation across the participating countries

For Ghana, the experience highlighted the value of community ownership, climate-responsive infrastructure and stronger community engagement in promoting peace and sustainable development

Madam Agyei’s central message was that while the four countries may adopt different implementation approaches, their shared objectives require every partner to deliver on its responsibilities

Ultimately, the success of SOCO will depend not only on the projects delivered in individual communities, but also on the ability of Ghana, Togo, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire to work together towards their common regional development goals

Source – gbcuraonline.com