The 6^th Implementation Support Mission for the Ghana Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (SOCO) took place from 16^th to 26^th September 2024, beginning with strategic discussions in Accra before transitioning to field visits in northern Ghana. Led by Ashutosh Raina, World Bank Task Team Leader (TTL), alongside officials from SOCO MLGDRD and World Bank, Ghana, the mission aimed to assess the progress of SOCO’s first-year implementation on the ground.

Commencing visits to various SOCO project sites on 18^th September 2024, the team visited several communities, including Daboya, Nalerigu, Gambaga, Damanko, Keri in the Nkwanta South District and Dambai, to inspect a range of completed and ongoing projects. Key sites visited included the construction of a maternity ward at Keri, the Nkwanta-Keri feeder road, and a CHPS compound at Nanori Community. The team also inspected the Damanko 3-unit classroom block in Nkwanta North District and further engaged with local groups such as the Smock Weavers Association and the Tisungtaba Shea Butter Group to understand how SOCO is supporting local livelihoods.

During the mission, the team organized an orientation session for Local Economic Development (LED) Core Team Members from pilot districts, underscoring SOCO’s commitment to building local capacity and enhancing community-driven economic development. Additionally, the team visited the site of the construction of the slaughterhouse project and engaged with Community Project Implementation Committees (CPIC) and Community Facilitators (CFs) to discuss the project’s impact and sustainability.

The field visits were an integral part of the mission’s objective to ensure that SOCO is effectively addressing the challenges of conflict vulnerability, climate resilience, and socio-economic development in the northern and Oti regions.

As the mission concludes, the findings and recommendations from these visits will be instrumental in guiding the next phase of the SOCO project, ensuring that it continues to make a meaningful impact in building resilient, cohesive, and empowered communities across the Gulf of Guinea’s northern border zones.

Pictures from the visit are below.