Panelists participating in discussions on the reevaluation of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program have proposed a regular review to enhance its efficiency in supporting vulnerable beneficiaries.
The suggestion was made during the Fifth National Social Protection Dialogue Series in Accra, focusing on the theme: “Enhancing the Wellbeing of Vulnerable Ghanaians through Effective Social Protection Systems.”
The LEAP program, initiated by the government in 2008, aims to provide cash transfers to extremely poor and vulnerable households, including orphaned and vulnerable children, persons with severe disabilities, and elderly persons above 65 years.
Myles Ongoh, the LEAP Program Manager, emphasized the need for periodic reviews to ensure that eligible individuals benefit appropriately and that empowered beneficiaries are gradually removed from the program.
He stated, “Beneficiaries would not remain on the program indefinitely and are anticipated to be self-sufficient within four years of enrollment.”
Dr. Stephen Afrane, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, stressed the importance of educating stakeholders to prevent misinformation and politicization of the intervention. He noted that bringing stakeholders together would help erase any sense of entitlement and create awareness among beneficiaries.
Christiana Gbedemah, a Social Policy Specialist at UNICEF, called for improved complementary services and connections to empower recipients. She emphasized the importance of routinely updated data and a case management system to determine eligibility.
Jeleel Auberon Odoom, Executive Director of Inclusion Ghana, advocated for the strengthening of systems supporting social protection, particularly for beneficiaries with disabilities.
Colson Akanbasaim, Head of Communications at LEAP Management Secretariat, explained that the reassessment process aimed to identify the poverty status and eligibility of households. The goal is to eliminate inclusion and exclusion mistakes, improving the efficiency of fund allocation to the most vulnerable households.
Mr. Akanbasaim noted that LEAP households were intended to be reviewed every four years, but this had not been done since the program's launch in 2008 due to various factors, including funding constraints.
