LEAP Takes Off

DISBURSEMENT of money to beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), programme started throughout the country yesterday.

Francis Tuffour reports from Amasaman, capital of Ga West Municipal, that 41 households out of the designated 45 benefited from the package.

The Deputy Municipal Social Welfare officer, Prosper Oyeh, who disclosed this to the Times explained that the remaining four households would have their packages today, citing officials’ late arrival at the designated centres.

He gave the breakdown of beneficiary communities in the municipality as Kotoku, 25 households; Amasaman, nine; Amamole, five and Pokuase, two.

Mr Oyeh advised beneficiaries to use the money judiciously.

In the Tema metropolis, G. Blay Gibbah reports that Madam Kojo, 60, a farmer and one of the beneficiaries at Appolonia, commended the government for coming out with such a scheme for the poor.

She said she would use the amount for the upkeep of her orphaned grandchild.

Another beneficiary, Madam Grace Agoe, 55, expressed the hope that the programme would be expanded to cover more poor people.

Officials of the Ghana Post and the Department of Social Welfare disbursed the money which covered the months of March and April. Each beneficiary received GH¢16.

Beneficiaries of LEAP are orphaned and vulnerable children, the extremely poor who are above 65 years of age and persons with severe disabilities without productive capacity.

The five-year programme falls under the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) and will cover 25,000 households this year.

Areas covered in the Tema metropolis yesterday were Appo-lonia, Zenu and Ashaiman. Beneficiaries in Tema Manhean will receive theirs today.

At Appolonia, 11 beneficiaries received a total of GH¢176, while at Zenu, six beneficiaries got GH¢96 with 19 beneficiaries at Ashaiman receiving GH¢204.

The seven beneficiaries at Tema Manhean will receive a total of GH¢112 today at the Tema Post Office.

from Amasaman, capital of Ga West Municipal, that 41 households out of the designated 45 benefited from the package.