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LEAP Benefits Adjusted Upward

By Emmanuel Amoquandoh
Economy & Investments LEAP Benefits Adjusted Upward
SEP 27, 2015 LISTEN

Government has accepted a request from the Ministry for Gender, Children and Social Protection to adjust payments under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme upwards following the depreciation of the cedi. Consequently the benefits have been raised by GHȼ16.00.

Speaking at a press briefing last week, Nana Oye Lithur, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection stated that as a result of this, three significant things will be happening during the payments which begin today, September 28.

She said, “With effect from the next payments, one member households which received an amount of GHȼ 48.00 previously will now receive GHȼ64.00. Two member households which received GHȼ60.00 will henceforth receive GHȼ76.00 while three member households will get GHȼ 88.00 from the previous payment of GHȼ 72.00. Four or more member households will now be paid GHȼ 106.00.”

She believes the increment will help to leap beneficiaries out of poverty faster.

The LEAP programme is aimed at providing a safety net for the poorest and most marginalized groups in the country society, notably the bottom 20% of the extreme poor.

The Minister disclosed that 37 payment cycles as at June this year have been effected. A total of about 90,000 beneficiary households in 144 districts were paid their social intervention cash grants as at June this year.

She is optimistic about reaching the 200,000 beneficiary household target by the end of this year which translates into at least 800,000 individuals.

The Minister said when the payment is rolled out this week, 50,000 new people from 184 districts will benefit.

Nana Oye Lithur disclosed that her Ministry has launched “LEAP 1000”, a new aspect of the LEAP programme, and this is targeted at pregnant women and children aged less than two years.

The purpose, she said, is to tackle malnutrition and eventually prevent stunted growth among the identified group.

“We are glad to announce that payment to beneficiaries of “LEAP 1000” will begin on September 28, running concurrently with the increased payment. So far, 6006 beneficiaries in three districts in the Upper East and seven districts in the Northern region are benefitting from this programme. The uniqueness of this programme lies in the fact that it targets women”, she stated.

The Minister said the LEAP programme is having a positive impact on poverty alleviation in the country.

To buttress her point she disclosed that “Research carried out by the University of Carolina and the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), has revealed that LEAP has increased school enrollment among children of second cycle institutions by seven percentage points, and reduced grade repetition among both primary and secondary aged children. Among primary aged children LEAP has reduced absenteeism by 10 percentage points.”

Nana Oye Lithur said to further strengthen the programme, the Ministry will conduct its own national evaluation exercise next year to assess the impact of the programme. She further mentioned that a full electronic payment system will also be rolled out next year.

She stressed that in terms of institutional arrangement, LEAP is now an autonomous programme and agency under the watch and supervision of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

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