By – Sadat Dabo

The National Coordinator of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project, Elizabeth Ohenewah Agyei, has announced that the funding challenges that temporarily stalled some projects under the initiative have been resolved, paving the way for affected projects to resume work

Speaking at the opening session of a four-day Ghana–Togo SOCO exchange programme in Nalerigu, the North East Regional capital, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Madam Agyei said the Ministry of Finance was releasing funds required to facilitate the completion of ongoing projects

She explained that projects affected by the earlier interruption in fund flow had begun mobilising to return to their respective sites

“Initially, there was a brief stalling of the fund flow, but currently, that has been resolved,” she stated, assuring stakeholders that the situation had improved

According to the National Coordinator, the release of funds was expected to support the continuation and completion of projects that had experienced delays

Her statement offers reassurance to beneficiary communities awaiting the completion of development projects under the SOCO initiative, although she did not provide specific details on the amounts released or the number of projects affected

Third cycle of SOCO project under discussion

Madam Agyei further disclosed that discussions were ongoing regarding the possibility of a third cycle of the SOCO Project

She indicated that there were strong assurances surrounding the discussions but did not announce a final decision on whether the next cycle would proceed

A third cycle could provide an opportunity to sustain development interventions in vulnerable communities, subject to the relevant approvals and funding arrangements

Ghana, Togo strengthen cross-border cooperation

The funding update came as Ghana and Togo commenced a four-day cross-border exchange programme aimed at strengthening cooperation between communities and project teams operating along their shared border

The programme, running from Tuesday, October 27, to Friday, October 30, is designed to help the two countries identify common development challenges and develop practical interventions to address them

Madam Agyei said the SOCO Project prioritises community-led development, ensuring that local people play a central role in identifying their needs and shaping interventions

She explained that the project was not limited to Ghana but was being implemented across four Gulf of Guinea countries: Ghana, Togo, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire

The regional initiative seeks to improve social and economic resilience and reduce the risk of conflict spilling over from the Sahel into vulnerable northern border communities

Shared infrastructure and youth development in focus

The National Coordinator said the Ghana–Togo exchange would focus on shared infrastructure, local economic development, economic expansion, youth engagement and social cohesion

She noted that communities on both sides of the border often share family ties, farmland, economic activities and social challenges, making coordinated interventions necessary

“If it touches Ghana on that community, I can assure you it touches Togo in those communities,” she said

She explained that the participating teams would visit selected communities in Ghana and Togo to examine their respective needs, identify similarities and differences, and explore opportunities for joint development initiatives

Madam Agyei stressed that the objective was to move beyond high-level meetings and translate regional cooperation into practical solutions that directly benefit border communities

SOCO targets 48 assemblies in Ghana

The World Bank-funded SOCO Project targets 48 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies across six northern and transition regions of Ghana: Northern, Upper East, Upper West, North East, Savannah and Oti

Its interventions include improving access to social services and basic amenities, promoting local economic development and strengthening social cohesion in vulnerable communities

The Ghana–Togo exchange is expected to generate lessons and proposals for more coordinated development activities, particularly in communities exposed to the effects of instability in the Sahel.

Madam Agyei expressed appreciation to the Togolese counterparts for their cooperation, emphasising that collaboration among the four participating countries would be essential to achieving the project’s broader objectives

Source – gbcuraonline.com