LED the “real Game Changer” under SOCO would transform local economy – U/E Regional Minister

The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu, said the Local Economic Development (LED) component of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project will transform the local economy.

He described the LED as a “real Game Changer” and appealed to the implementers to give it their best shot to reduce to the barest minimum, the incidence of abject poverty that was endemic in the northern part of the country.

The Minister said this at a three-day orientation for 21 key staff from the 15 Municipal and District Assemblies from the North East and Upper East Regions in Bolgatanga.

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He explained that even though the physical infrastructures were ongoing across the region, LED had a direct economic impact on the beneficiary individuals.

He added that the orientation sought to provide deeper insight into the SOCO processes and arrangement for the smooth implementation of LED which was the non-infrastructure programme.

“Take this training seriously, it is also meant to facilitate the training for validated Livelihood Empowerment Group and Village Savings and Loans Associations on beneficiary communities of the two regions,” he told the participants.

Underscoring the background to the LED activities, Mrs. Cedonia Dere, a Local Economic Development Specialist, said the objective of the LED initiatives was to create both short and long-term economic resources of resilience by investing strategically in targeted markets including livestock.

She added that the project aimed to rehabilitate existing rural markets and the development of economic activities to generate local employment and income.

Mrs. Dere said the government deplored LED to create the enabling environment to engage all stakeholders either in the production or the value chain and the consumer to improve wealth at the local level.

She urged the locals to form what she termed Common Interest Groups such as farmer-based organizations, food processing, transport owners, and village savings among others to enable them to access funds from LED to grow their investments.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh