LEAP to reach 200,000 beneficiaries by December

An estimated 800,000 individuals will benefit from the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) programme by the end of this year.

This new figure will accrue from 50,000 new beneficiaries that are being added from 184 districts with effect from next week’s payments.

Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, made these revelations at a press briefing to announce the 38th Cycle LEAP payments.

According to her, the LEAP programme is having positive impact on poverty alleviation in Ghana.

“Research carried out by the University of Carolina and ISSER has revealed that LEAP has increased school enrolment among secondary school-aged children by 7% and reduced grade repetition among both primary and secondary aged children,” she stressed.

In her estimation, in hopes of strengthening the programme to push beneficiaries out of poverty faster, government believes that the increment of stipends is critical.

Hence, the 38TH Cycle of the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty payments, which commences September 28, would see an increment in the grants paid to beneficiaries.

A one-member household will receive GH¢64 as compared to GH¢48 previously; two-member households will receive GH¢76, an upgrade of from GH¢60, while three-member households will get GH¢88 from a previous GH¢72 for a span of two months.

In addition, four- or more-member households would receive GH¢106 for the same period.

Recounting the launch of LEAP 1000 in February this year, Nana Oye Lithur stated that 6,006 beneficiaries in three districts in the Upper East and seven districts in the Northern Region are currently profiting from it.

Touching on LEAP 1000, which is exclusive to women, the Gender Minister stated that the programme is targeted at pregnant women and children less than two years old.

“Its main aim is to tackle malnutrition and eventually prevent stunted growth,” she added.

She hinted that the ministry will conduct a National Evaluation Exercise next year to assess the full impact of LEAP.