The Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion Project (SOCO) showcased a unique display of community solidarity through an Inter-Cluster Football and Cultural Dance Competition held in Sankana, situated in the Nadowli Kaleo District of the Upper West Region.
The innovative event, which challenged the norm, is a symbol of SOCO’s commitment to encouraging harmony and cultural diversity within clusters. Speaking to B&FT, members of various communities showed solid support for this initiative. They stressed how the competition strengthened their relationships and helped them appreciate their heritage better.
“It is good. this event unites us and we learnt a lot from this event. In all we exercised our body,” Suglo Godden, a community member, said.
Benjamin KambaNaa, a resident, also noted that: “This is the first time I have ever witnessed such an event before. It united us the youth through football games and our cultural dance. We will be happy if this continues”.
Among the broad goals of SOCO are small-scale social and economic resilience infrastructure, local economic development and involving youth in socially cohesive activities.
Both participants and organizers strongly agreed that proactive regional solutions were needed to solve these issues.
Participating completely in the spirit of competition, the football games between clusters—Jang-Sombo versus Takpo and Sankana versus Charikpong, in particular—showcased remarkable talent and sportsmanship.
Salifu Ibrahim Taini, the District Planning Officer, Yahaya Jamaalden, the Director of the Center for National Culture, traditional leaders and the District Chief Executive, Kethrine T. Lankono, all praised the event’s role in fostering inter-ethnic tolerance and community cohesion.
“Nadowli Kaleo District Assembly, one of the 48 beneficiaries of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, has benefited tremendously from this project and as I speak, physical projects have commenced in various communities of the district. It is therefore hope that this five-year project will see to the provision of basic infrastructural needs of our communities,” Madam T. Lankono said.
She added: “The SOCO fun games is a two-day competition of football and cultural performance by our talented men and women from 4 clusters with about 200 participants. The purpose of organizing these Inter-Cluster sports and play-based activities is to provide opportunities for all members of the communities – children, adolescents, youth, and elderly, PLWDs, etc to connect with others and build meaningful relationships.”
