The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has organized stakeholders’ engagement workshop on the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) payment process and performance for key stakeholders in Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper West, Upper East and the Bono East Regions.
The workshop aimed at ensuring stakeholders at the regional and district levels have full understanding of the programs payment processes, objectives, guiding principles and goals.
It was also intended to strengthen the capacity of District Social Welfare Officers (DSWOs) who are the Focal Persons on LEAP programe.
Addressing the participants, the Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hajia Lariba Abudu, expressed the hope that, the engagement will go a long way to address the challenges facing the program.
Madam Lariba Abudu who is also the Minister for Gender Ministry and Member of Parliament (MP) for Walewale, in her remarks, also stated that, “the development partners will always extend their support to the program if only they had the right feedback from the LEAP secretariat.
She explained further that, “government will continue to provide support for the program because it touches so many people’s lives.
“This program does not know any political affiliate. No, I don’t think so”, he stated.
Meanwhile, the head of the LEAP programme Myles Ongoh, in an interaction with the media cataloged the importance of the workshop indicating that, the beneficiaries of LEAP program should be expecting a timely cash out after the workshop.
“After this review they should be expecting a timely cash out. They will be treated very well at the pay point. It is our hope that after this engagement, the key stakeholders way of doing things will change. They will approach the beneficiaries with some respect. The District Social Welfare Officers (DSWOs) will give the beneficiaries the necessary information. If you are entitled to Gh¢64 so shall you withdraw. They will be constantly informed at the pay point”, he assured.
The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) provide cash and health insurance to extremely poor households across the country to alleviate short-term poverty and encourage long term human capital development.
The program started a trial phase in March 2008 and then expanded in 2009 and 2010.
Story By: Alhassan Yakubu |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.
