The World Bank has commended Ghana for the remarkable progress achieved under the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project, describing its performance as exceeding expectations and delivering beyond initial targets.

This remark was made by the World Bank’s Global Director for Social Development, Robin Mearns, who led a high-level World Bank delegation to tour SOCO project sites and engaged with stakeholders to assess midterm progress, strengthen collaboration, and explore opportunities for potential scaling up the initiative.

“The SOCO Project is not only meeting but exceeding its targets. It is bringing tremendous economic prosperity to regions that have not seen much investment in the past. The scale and inclusiveness of the project are impressive, and I strongly encourage additional funding to extend its reach to the remaining vulnerable districts”, Mr. Mearns said.

During the field visit, the delegation inspected community-level interventions in Jinlo along the Salaga corridor, including a CHPS compound and guinea fowl rearing project.

Mr. Mearns recounted the story of Fatima, a local farmer whose guinea fowl stock grew from 30 to over 100 birds with SOCO's support.

“Fatima’s story is just one example of how SOCO is boosting local livelihoods and building resilience,” he said.

The team also engaged with other income-generating groups, such as the Shishegu Soap Makers and toured a newly built livestock market. These initiatives fall under SOCO’s Local Economic Development (LED) component, which is central to the project’s mission of sustainable community empowerment.

The Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, described the project as a game changer in addressing both infrastructure gaps and social vulnerability in the six Northern regions.

He noted that SOCO’s integrated approach is helping to shape peaceful and thriving communities across the regions.

SOCO Project Coordinator, Elizabeth Ohenewah Agyei, revealed that the first cycle of the project had delivered 530 community infrastructure subprojects, with 489 completed and handed over as of February 2025.

These include 33 roads and culverts, 59 educational facilities, 66 health centres, 210 water facilities, and 73 rural markets.

She also noted that over 6,200 jobs—many for women, youth, and persons with disabilities—had been created, and 744 livelihood groups with more than 24,000 members had received support to boost local productivity.

Ms. Agyei added that a second cycle is underway, targeting the delivery of 680 additional subprojects across the 48 districts.

“The SOCO Project is not just about bricks and blocks. It’s about building community ownership and participation,” she said. “We aim to strengthen the social fabric through inclusive leadership and shared responsibility, which are the true essence of social cohesion.”

The delegation also participated in the inauguration of the Tamale Metropolitan Youth Parliament, a civic engagement initiative under SOCO that promotes youth involvement in governance and peacebuilding.

World Bank’s Practice Manager for Social Sustainability and Inclusion in West Africa, Nicolas Perrin, described the platform as a model worth replicating.

“This Youth Parliament exemplifies civic inclusion and leadership development,” he said.

The SOCO Project is funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. It operates 48 selected districts across Ghana’s six northern regions with a focus on building inclusive, peaceful, and economically empowered communities along the northern border zones.