The Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) is a $150 million Credit Facility Project secured by the Government of Ghana from the World Bank to undertake 582 infrastructural projects in 48 beneficiary Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies.
The North Gonja is one of four [4] Districts in the Savannah Region to benefit from this project. The SOCO Project seeks to proactively prevent the spread of conflict from the Sahel, reduce vulnerability to climate change, and strengthen local institutions, economic opportunities, and public trust.
Sub-component 1.3 of the three [3] components deals with Youth engagement and social cohesion activities. It seeks to promote mainstream active youth participation and representation in community level developmental efforts and investments for building strong and sustained community resilience and cohesion. Activities to be carried out under this sub-activity area include, but not limited to the following:
i. Organising inter community dialogue platforms on youth vulnerability issues (i.e.
conflict, climate change, girl child education, inclusion, etc.),
ii. Organising community level entertainment events such as drama, cinemas, culture drumming and sing competitions that will highlight co-existence, cohesion and specific inclusion issues amongst communities within the cluster and other adjoining
communities,
iii. Organising cluster-level inter-community sports for development events such as football
galas, athletics, indoor games, etc.
The North Gonja District is implementing sub-component 1.3 in four zonal or cluster communities with a football Gala competition. Hon. Adam Eliasu Red Bawa yesterday [15/11/2023] handed over two pair of jersey and a foot ball each to the four clusters of implantation,; Daboya , Mankarigu Bawena and Lingbinsi respectively.
Hon Red Bawa entreated the Youth in these zones to embrace the Football Gala Competition as a means of socializing and uniting for a common North Gonja; the DCE called for support from the Youth in his effort of bridging the ethnic homogeneity gap which turns to constrain socio-cultural organization and development. It’s a 3-day competition starting from the 23rd to the 25th of November, 2023. Mankarigu will host the opening ceremony while Daboya host the closing ceremony.
