Prioritize Recertification Exercise in LEAP – Gov’t Urged

The Social Enterprise and Development Foundation Ghana (SEND Ghana) has called on government to urgently prioritize the recertification exercise in the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme.

According to the non-governmental organization (NGO), there are some beneficiaries who have proven to engage in productive activities and need to be exited from the programme.

This was disclosed by Mr. Bashiru Jumah, Upper West Regional Coordinator of SEND Ghana yesterday, whiles presenting a study it undertook at a National Dialogue on LEAP.

The recertification envisaged in the LEAP programme is designed to reassess and determine changes in the living conditions of beneficiaries for the purposes of graduation.

However, after ten (10) years of implementation, the exercise is yet to be rolled out.

This, according to Mr. Bashiru, raises concern as to whether LEAP cash transfer is actually to lift the extreme poor out of poverty or to perpetuate a system of dependency.

He further recommended that “the graduation programme should take into account existing community-based income generating activities that have proven to be viable and sustainable.”

LEAP Grant Amount Inadequate

Bashiru also called on government to increase the LEAP cash amount to enable beneficiary households meet their basic needs.

According to him, the current amount received by beneficiaries is inadequate and far less than the lower poverty line of GH¢2.69 a day.

Meanwhile, a Social Welfare Officer at Ada East, Mr. Richard Selase Agboga, has hinted that there are some beneficiaries who are not vulnerable and yet are enrolled on the programme.

“The programme is designed for vulnerable people not people who are energetic. You must be an orphan, a vulnerable child, a severely disabled person, 65 years and above, and a pregnant woman who is poor to benefit from the programme,” he said.

By: Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum