44TH PAYMENT CYCLE OF LEAP SOCIAL CASH GRANT 212,848 HOUSEHOLDS TO BE PAID FOR THE MONTHS OF JULY AND AUGUST, 2016
The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme, will commence its 44th cycle payment from 10th to 21st October, 2016. A total of 212,848 beneficiary households in all the 216 districts of the country will be paid their LEAP grants. During the payment period; one eligible member household will receive GHS 64.00, two eligible member household will receive GHS 76.00, while three eligible member household will receive GHS 88.00 and four and more eligible member household will receive GHS106.00. These payments cover the months of July and August, 2016.
This 44th cycle payment will include 192 households from the ‘Alleged Witches Camps’ in Gushiegu and Tamale Children’s Home, both in Northern region, the Bekwai Central Destitute Infirmary and Mampong Babies Home both in Ashanti region. The rest are the Ankaful Leprosarium in the Central region, the Osu Children’s Home and the St Joseph Orphanage, Jirapa, Upper West region. This group of beneficiaries fall under the specialised category for automatic inclusion onto the LEAP Programme. The inclusion of the specialised category of beneficiaries is in line with the Programme’s objective to reduce the plight of the vulnerable and marginalized in the society.
All the beneficiaries will be paid electronically using the e-zwich platform of the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS). This payment platform uses biometric fingerprint to verify beneficiaries before payment.
The LEAP Programme is making impact on the lives of its target group:
The LEAP Programme is also continuing its nationwide National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) registration for members of the LEAP households. Currently, 43,111 LEAP household members have been registered free-of- charge onto the NHIS platform. The registration exercise is expected to end by December, 2016. The NHIS registration exercise is aimed at improving access to health care for the members of the LEAP households.
The LEAP Programme is continuing its expansion drive to ensure that we achieve the target of 250,000 households by December, 2016.
It is worth noting that the LEAP Programme was rated an ‘A+’ by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) in its 2016 annual review. DFID is one of the Development Partners that is supporting the Programme in terms of Grants and Non-Grants Support. By this rating, the programme is deemed to be performing very well toward the achievement of its overall objective.
It is also important to mention that , the programme is embarked on data collection exercise for the implementation of emergency LEAP to persons affected by floods, rain and windstorms in four districts in Upper East region; Bawku West, Builsa South , Talensi and Bongo districts . Emergency LEAP is a temporary cash grant, which is provided to people who have been affected by environmental and natural disasters and are displaced. The cash grant serves as support to assist them to cope with the harsh impact of the disasters. Beneficiaries under the Emergency LEAP from the 4 districts mentioned above will receive their grants over a three month period, spanning from September to November 2016.
ISSUED BY:
LEAP PROGRAMME SECRETARIAT
MINISTRY OF GENDER, CHILDREN
AND SOCIAL PROTECTION, ACCRA.
Achaligabe Colson Akanbasiam (Mr) is the Head of Case Management of the LEAP programme. He has over 15 years working experience in both governmental and non-governmental organisations. He holds a Master of Philosophy Degree in Gender and Development (Norway) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology with Political Science (Ghana).
Alhaji Lateef Mamudu is a senior civil servant and has Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accounting from Tamale Polytechnic and a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from Ghana Institute Of Management And Public Administration (GIMPA).
Thomas Boateng Quaison holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Information Studies from University of Ghana. He has undergone training on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) including Evaluation of Social Programmes at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Public Administration (MPA) at the University of Ghana Business School and Project Management Professionals (PMP) at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.
Richard Azina Nartey joined the LEAP team in September 2013 as Assistant to the Head of Operations Unit, having previously worked as a Programme Officer on the National Social Protection Strategy at the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. Richard worked with Youth and Women Empowerment (CSO) as Youth Coordinator, Project Manager and Executive Director.
Felix Kwaku Logah Felix Kwaku Logah is the head of operations for the LEAP Programme. He is the lead in planning and implementing LEAP Programme design parameters. He is responsible for targeting and enrollment activities. He is a professional Social Worker who holds Masters degree in Development Studies, Bachelor in Social Work and Clinical Psychology, Certificate in Public Heath all from University of Ghana, Legon. Trained in Designing and Implementing Social Cash Transfer in the Economic and Policy Research Institute, Cape Town -South Africa, Trained in Development Evaluation (IPDET) in Carleton University, Ottawa-Canada.
Dzigbordi Kofi Agbekpornu is the National LEAP Manager and is responsible for leading the team at LEAP Management Secretariat to achieve the Programme objectives. He also coordinates and manages programme activities across the country at regional, district and community levels.
Jeremiah Yanney is a City & Guilds of London Institute Certificate & Diploma holder in Microprocessors and Microcomputer Technology, Microsoft A+, Networking+ and (MCP) Microsoft Certified Professional, (MCSE) Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, FSK systems. He has specialized skills in Hardware, Networking, Systems administration, MIS consultancy, training, and a Certificate in Social protection (CSPS, University of Ghana).
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