The government has appointed new Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to steer the affairs of the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the country. This includes the 48 districts that are beneficiaries of the SOCO Project. To ensure effective implementation of the SOCO Project, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs has organized a workshop to enhance the capacity of the MMDCEs to lead and direct the project.
The esteemed Hon. Ali Adolf John, Northern Regional Minister, delivered an erudite opening address at the orientation of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) pertaining to the implementation modules of the SOCO Project.
This pivotal event transpired at the Nim Avenue Hotel, Tamale, on Monday, the 18th of August, 2025. The meeting sought to endow Hon. MMDCEs with the requisite knowledge, resources, and harmonized plans indispensable for the efficacious implementation of the SOCO Project within their respective jurisdictions.
The Minister elucidated that the SOCO project constitutes a quinquennial collaboration between the Government of Ghana and the World Bank. It endeavors to augment the resilience of border communities by attenuating risks of violence and instability through addressing the underlying root causes.
The Minister opined that, the Northern Region is confronted with challenges encompassing extensive geographical areas with underserved communities, a pronounced dependence on climate-vulnerable agriculture, and infrastructural deficits that circumscribe access to vital services.
The SOCO project is anchored upon the principles of inclusive development, local capacity enhancement, and targeted socio-economic interventions designed to ameliorate livelihoods, infrastructure, and service delivery.
The Regional Minister accentuated that MMDCEs are tasked with leading and coordinating project activities, ensuring prudent utilization of resources, championing participatory planning and budgeting, as well as monitoring and reporting on progress.
Madam Elizabeth Ohenewaa Adyei, Ghana’s SOCO Project Coordinator, gave a presentation explaining the project’s goals and how it will be implemented. She shared updates on sub-projects in the second cycle, talked about challenges faced, and looked at ways to move forward. Additionally, she discussed plans for starting the Third Cycle of the project.