Ghana pushes regional cooperation agenda ahead of Social Cohesion Conference in Côte d’Ivoire -Ahmed Ibrahim

Ghana’s Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, is leading a high-level delegation to Côte d’Ivoire to participate in the Social Cohesion (SOCO) Regional Conference. Ahead of the main event, a crucial Coordination and Regional Committee (CRC) meeting has been convened to align strategies and strengthen cooperation among countries along the Gulf of Guinea’s northern corridor. The pre-conference engagement is laying the groundwork for deeper regional collaboration, particularly in addressing shared socio-economic and security challenges.

Delivering remarks at the meeting on behalf of John Dramani Mahama, the Minister stressed the urgency of collective and coordinated action in tackling issues such as insecurity, climate change, and limited economic opportunities in border communities. He highlighted that development and security are closely linked, noting that vulnerable populations—especially in northern Ghana and across the Sahel—are increasingly affected by climate variability, cross-border migration, and extremist threats. According to him, these transnational challenges require unified, inclusive, and sustained responses from all countries in the region.

The CRC meeting serves as a vital technical and strategic platform ahead of the main conference. It enables participating countries and development partners to align priorities, review progress, and ensure that agreed policies are translated into concrete and measurable actions. By harmonizing interventions, the platform helps improve coordination and maximize the impact of regional initiatives focused on stability and development.

A major highlight of Ghana’s presentation was the success of the Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project, which has positively impacted approximately 1.5 million people across 48 districts in six northern regions of the country. The initiative has delivered nearly 950 infrastructure subprojects, including the construction and rehabilitation of schools, healthcare facilities, water systems, and climate resilience infrastructure. These investments are designed to improve living conditions and strengthen community resilience.

In addition, Ghana’s Local Economic Development programmes have supported more than 46,000 beneficiaries through over 1,500 community-based groups. Notably, nearly 80 percent of these beneficiaries are women and youth engaged in agriculture and small-scale enterprises. The Minister emphasized that such targeted interventions are already producing tangible results by improving livelihoods, fostering trust in local governance, and reducing susceptibility to extremist influence in vulnerable areas.

Recent security incidents within the sub-region, including attacks affecting Ghanaian traders operating across borders, were highlighted as evidence of the interconnected nature of regional risks. These developments underscore the need for enhanced cooperation in intelligence sharing, border security, and community-level resilience building. Strengthening these areas, the Minister noted, is essential for maintaining peace and stability across the region.

Climate change also emerged as a key issue during the discussions, with stakeholders calling for more inclusive and gender-responsive adaptation strategies. Women and youth, who are often disproportionately affected by environmental and economic shocks, were identified as priority groups in the design and implementation of future interventions.

As preparations continue for the main SOCO Regional Conference, participating countries are expected to deepen their commitment to joint solutions that promote job creation, social inclusion, and sustainable development. Ghana reaffirmed its dedication to working closely with neighboring countries and development partners to transform border communities from zones of vulnerability into hubs of economic opportunity and resilience.

The outcomes of the conference are anticipated to shape future regional policies and guide investments aimed at fostering peace, stability, and shared prosperity across the Gulf of Guinea sub-region.