Keta: The Department of Social Welfare in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region has engaged communities within the area on the enrollment onto the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme. The move was aimed at educating, informing, and creating awareness about the programme policies and identifying potential beneficiaries.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Nii-Ashie Kotey, the Unit Head at the Department of Social Welfare, stated that LEAP is a cash transfer programme designed to assist the poorest households in the country in meeting basic needs, including food, health, and education. He elaborated that eligible beneficiaries include orphans, vulnerable children, elderly individuals above 65 years, persons with severe disabilities, and pregnant or lactating women with infants under one year old.
Mr. Kotey emphasized the process of selecting eligible households, referred to as 'targeting', which involves identification and selection based on data from the Ghana National Household Registry (GNHR), an agency under the Ministry of Gender. He clarified that selection is not based on walk-ins, self-selections, or expressions of need, but on a national call.
Beneficiaries are required to have a nominated caregiver to receive the payments, with the caregiver using a payment card issued by the service provider. Mr. Kotey detailed the payment structure, stating that households with one eligible member receive GH? 384.00, two-member households receive GH? 456.00, while three and four or more eligible household members receive GH? 528.00 and GH? 636.00 respectively, every two months starting from February each year.
He informed that all payments would be made electronically via the E-zwitch platform and cautioned against giving money to focal persons or others. He advised beneficiaries to invest the funds in education, medical care, nutritious food, and other ventures to improve their living conditions.
Additionally, Mr. Kotey highlighted benefits such as Free National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cards, birth certificates for children under 12 months, and free antenatal and post-natal care. He mentioned ongoing efforts to renew expired NHIS cards and plans for a new data collection exercise for new participants.
Participants engaged by the Ghana News Agency expressed satisfaction with the LEAP programme, appreciating the government and Gender Ministry's efforts to alleviate poverty. The Social Welfare Department has also conducted similar educational exercises in other communities such as Abor, Bolove-Nolopi, Sasieme, Asadame, Anlo-Afiadenyigba, and Kedzi.
