The Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project has terminated 18 contracts in the Upper West Region due to non-performance, delays, and changes in project scope, officials have confirmed.
National Project Coordinator, Elizabeth Ohenewah Agyei, announced at the orientation of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and directors on Friday, 22, 2025, in Wa.
She explained that while some contracts were terminated because of scope variations that affected pricing, others had to be withdrawn due to delays and contractors’ failure to deliver on time.
“In the Upper West Region, about 18 contracts have been terminated. These include eight that were withdrawn because of delays and non-performance,” Ms. Agyei disclosed.
She assured that all affected projects would be re-advertised and re-awarded to ensure communities receive the intended benefits.
On the sidelines, the Upper West Regional Minister, Lawyer Charles Lwanga Puozuing, provided further clarification, noting that projects nearing completion were being allowed to continue.
“Some projects were delayed due to site challenges, plan changes, but those that had already reached more than 60% completion could not simply be abandoned. It was only fair to get the contractors to speed up and complete them,” he explained.
He added that most of the projects under SOCO are designed to last between three months and one year, depending on their scope, and that about 64.5% of SOCO projects in the region are either completed or already in use.
However, eight contracts were specifically terminated because contractors never reported to the site.
Also speaking to the media, the Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Be-Awuribe Issifu, urged District Chief Executives to take charge of project delivery in their respective communities.
“I encourage the DCEs, who are at the forefront of implementing this project in their communities, to up their game and get the project properly executed so that the beneficiary communities can get the best out of it,” he said.
He added that the orientation was especially critical since many of the regional ministers and DECs are new to the project.
“This orientation is to bring us up to speed with the implementation process so that we can appreciate it and really do what is required of us,” he emphasized.
Mr. Issifu also highlighted the dire need for infrastructure improvements in parts of the Savannah Region, noting that several roads, including those in Sawla, Bole, and the Bamboi areas, have deteriorated badly.
“Sawla-Wa is quite very bad in fact, I have used this road for a long time, but it has become deadly,” he remarked.
The SOCO project is a five-year initiative implemented by the Government of Ghana with funding from the World Bank.
The $150 million SOCO project is aimed at improving economic activities in 48 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in six regions in the country.
Beneficiaries of the five-year project are in the Oti, Upper East, Upper West, Northern, North-East and the Savannah regions.
