LEAP to roll-in more beneficiaries

Nana Oye Lithur, the Minister of Gender and Social Protection has hinted that only one out of ten critical poor people were being catered for under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty project.

The situation she said, had compelled government to roll in more than 60,000 households to the scheme has a measure for poverty alleviation.

Nana Oye added that, by September this year, another 50,000 will be added to the pool of beneficiaries of the Livelihoods Empowerment Against Poverty project to give some hope to the extremely poor in society.

The Gender Minister was speaking to reporters after touring some communities in the Western and Central region's to access how the Targeting and Mapping of new households were being carried out.

She added that government had also increased the amount to beneficiaries from GH¢24.00 to GH¢44.00, whilst a graduation model was being developed for orphans under the LEAP.

At Axim in the Ellembelle district in the Western Region, 500 new households are being added to the existing 585 within seven communities.

The bad nature of the roads in the Asonti, Bobrama and Krobohene, due to the recent rains, prevented the Minister and her team from entering these communities.

The Minister was happy with work done so far in the area and commended the district social development officer and her team.

Ms Constance Baiden, the District Social Development Officer, said training, sensitization targeting and validation had been carried out in the targeted communities.

Currently, she said data collection was ongoing to ensure that right people were captured under the scheme.