Gender Minister, Nana Oye Lithur interacting with some of the LEAP beneficiaries
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur has disclosed that her ministry in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority will roll out free NHIS registration for all beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme.
According to her, the need to conduct another mass registration of all LEAP beneficiaries is stemmed from the observation that most beneficiaries are not on the NHIS scheme which is a compulsory element .
She made the announcement Thursday after touring some LEAP payment points in the Kpone Katamanso District. She was accompanied by the District Chief Executive, Alhaji Issah Antiee Tetteh, Greater Accra Regional Director Social Development, Phyllis Emefa Senyo and the District Social Development Director, Georgina Asare.
Nana Oye Lithur visited Mantse Agbona and Sebrepo payment points where a total of 145 persons were paid in the 41st manual and 15th electronic-payment cycle of LEAP.
Interacting with beneficiaries, she revealed that a total of 146,119 households in 185 districts are expected to be paid nationwide in this cycle of payment which commenced 29th March.
Currently, one eligible household member receive Gh¢ 64.00, two eligible member household will receive Gh¢ 76.00, while three eligible member household will receive Gh¢88.00 and four or more eligible member household will receive Gh¢106.00. These payments cover the months of January and February, 2016.
Gender Minister Oye Lithur further noted that the LEAP Programme is currently transitioning from the manual payment to electronic-payment platform. In line with the transition, the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement System (GhIPSS) has been contracted by the MoGCSP to roll out the Electronic-Payment system of cash grant transfer to all LEAP beneficiaries.
“A nation-wide electronic-payment exercise is currently being conducted to enroll all LEAP beneficiaries onto the E-Zwich platform so that they can receive their social cash grant through this platform. Beneficiaries who have been enrolled onto this platform will be paid their cash grant electronically during this LEAP payment cycle and this will continue into 42nd payment cycle in May, 2016 and beyond”.
Nana Oye Lithur urged beneficiaries to use the money wisely and for the intended purpose.The Beneficiaries on the other hand were extremely grateful to the Government of Ghana for continually paying the LEAP grant on schedule.
