In the heart of Northern Ghana, the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project is working to strengthen the bonds that hold communities together and to build resilience against economic and social challenges.
Through an array of youth engagement initiatives, cultural celebrations, and sports activities, SOCO is empowering communities across the Upper West, Upper East, Northern, North East, Savannah, and Oti Regions, fostering a spirit of unity and mutual understanding among diverse groups.Implemented by the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Development (MLGDRD), the SOCO Project is part of a larger regional initiative encompassing Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, with a total investment of USD 450 million by the World Bank, of which Ghana has been allocated USD 150 million.
The project aims to address the complex factors driving fragility in these regions, including economic instability, climate risks, and social inequality.One of the SOCO project's core objectives has been to encourage social cohesion and prevent divisive forces from destabilizing communities.
Notable among these initiatives are 20 events dubbed "SOCO Games" and 15 cultural festivals hosted across the selected project regions.