Ghana has taken on the presidency of the Committee for Regional Coordination (CRC) under the Social Cohesion Project for the Northern Regions of the Gulf of Guinea (SOCO).
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has therefore pledged strong and purposeful leadership to advance regional coordination and cooperation.
Speaking at the CRC meeting held ahead of the SOCO Regional Conference in Côte d’Ivoire, Mr Ibrahim emphasized the urgency of collective action to address shared challenges facing the region, including climate variability, limited economic opportunities, and insecurity.
“Our collective safety depends on how well we work together. No country can address these challenges alone,” he stated.
As CRC President, Ghana will lead the implementation of the 2025 to 2026 roadmap, focusing on strengthening coordination, enhancing knowledge sharing, and improving joint responses to fragility, conflict, and climate-related risks.
Minister Ibrahim highlighted Ghana’s experience in implementing the SOCO project, which has benefited 1.5 million people across 48 districts in six northern regions, with nearly 950 infrastructure subprojects completed and support provided to over 46,000 beneficiaries, largely women and young people.
The Minister called for sustained collaboration among member states, development partners, and the private sector to consolidate gains and expand impact, stating that “our shared responsibility is to ensure that our border communities become places of opportunity and stability, not vulnerability.”
Ghana’s leadership of the CRC is expected to strengthen regional solidarity and accelerate efforts toward building resilient and peaceful communities across the Gulf of Guinea.
By Emmanuel Nelson Ebelin
