Ahmed Ibrahim outlines measures to tackle SOCO challenges
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has proposed a three-point approach to tackling social, economic and security challenges facing border communities in northern parts of Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Benin.
They are information sharing, deliberate support for border communities and consistency in efforts that are aimed at improving the lives of the people.
“If we take these steps seriously, we will not only respond to the challenges we see today, but we will also prevent the ones we have not yet seen,” Mr Ibrahim said.
He made these proposals on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama when he delivered the keynote address at the opening of the Social Cohesion (SOCO) Conference in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
The two-day conference brought together government officials, development partners and regional stakeholders to review progress under the SOCO Project.
The SOCO project is a multi-country initiative across the four aforementioned countries designed to prevent conflict spillover from the Sahel by strengthening social and economic resilience in border-zone communities.
Mr Ibrahim cited support for agricultural value chains, small businesses, and local enterprise as some of the ways to reduce vulnerability and build lasting resilience.
The minister called for greater attention to climate pressures across the Sahel and in the SOCO areas, stressing that changes in rainfall, land use, and access to resources were already creating tensions.
Providing further elucidation on the proposals, Mr Ibrahim said in many communities, early warning signs are visible, people see them, local leaders know them, but too often, the information does not move quickly enough, or is not captured in a way that allows duty bearers to act.
“We must continue to invest in our border communities in a more deliberate way. When local economies are active, when people have access to income-generating activities, and when women and youth are included in economic opportunities, communities become more stable,” he noted.
“These challenges affect communities differently, and if we do not respond carefully, they can deepen existing inequalities,” he emphasized.
Lauding the SOCO initiative, he said the challenges were moving fast, and in some cases faster than response mechanisms.
“What we have done so far is important, but it is not enough to secure the future we want for our region. If we are serious about conflict prevention, protecting our border zones, and building resilient communities, then our efforts must be steady, practical, and continuous.”
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
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