LEAP COVERS 112,367 HOUSEHOLDS IN 3 REGIONS OF THE NORTH
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisah Djaba has disclosed that the LEAP program covers 112,367 households in the three Northern Regions. According to the minister, out of the 112,367 households, Upper West had 38,133, Upper East 31,061 and with the rest 43,173 recorded in the Northern Region.
The program currently covers 254 districts nationwide with 213,044 beneficiary households. Government through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has improved the flagship social intervention. Ms. Otiko Djaba said the new direction for the LEAP program is in accordance with government’s vision of building Ghana beyond aid. “The LEAP program is designed with the understanding that poverty and vulnerability are multi-dimensional and therefore requires inter-sectoral stakeholder collaboration in order to make meaningful and sustainable impacts on its beneficiaries.” She noted that the objective of the program is to reduce extreme poverty and promote human capital development among LEAP beneficiaries through increased collaboration and linkages with other social services.
However, the Gender Minister, craved the indulgence of the various MMDCEs in the three Northern regions to encourage and support the Ghana Health Service Directorate in their respective assemblies to collaborate with the ministry through the LEAP programme to attend to the health needs of LEAP beneficiaries. She made this known during a one-day sensitization workshop for MMDCEs and MMDCDs from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions held in Tamale.
The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Sa-eed said, the LEAP program, since its inception, has chalked many successes in the three Northern regions by way of increased enrollment in schools, attendance and retention among children of LEAP households, improvement in health care service delivery for LEAP households which has increased NHIS coverage from 28% in 2010 to 52% in 2016. He added that, in spite of all the achievements chalked by the program, it has its own challenges.
Mr. Salifu Sa-eed indicated that, there are lots of misconceptions surrounding the program with some people speculating that the program is making people lazy and that less than half of the extremely poor population is covered under the program. He, therefore, urged all MMDCEs and MMDCDs to consolidate their success and help improve and propel the LEAP program to a higher pedestal. “It is important for all MMDCEs to work closely with stakeholders to address the challenges of the program.”
SOURCE: DAILY GUIDE PAGE 15, GHANAWEB.COM
MINISTRY SENSITISES MMDCES, MMDCDS ON LEAP
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has held a day’s sensitization workshop for stakeholders to equip them on the operations and processes of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme to enhance its implementation.
The workshop was also to enhance collaboration and transparency in the implementation of the LEAP Programme, which is designed to reduce poverty in the country. It was attended by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and their Coordinating Directors (MMDCDs) from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.
Madam Otiko Afisah Djaba, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, who opened the workshop in Tamale, said the LEAP Programme had undergone significant improvement and required further improvement adding “LEAP cannot continue to be only a hand-out but a hand-up to beneficiary households.”
The LEAP Programme began in 2008 and it targets orphans and vulnerable children, persons with severe disability without productive capacity, the elderly 65 years and above without source of support and extremely poor pregnant women with infants under one year. The Programme currently covers all districts in the country with 213,044 beneficiary households, which translates to about 937,904 individuals, where a one-member household, two-member household, three-member household and four or more-member household received GHc64, GHc76, GHc88 and GHc106 cash transfers bi-monthly in that order.
Madam Afisah Djaba said the government was restructuring the LEAP Programme adding “The new direction will seek to make the programme better and its impact sustainable on beneficiary households.” Mr. Salifu Saeed, Northern Regional Minister urged all MMDCEs and MMDCDs to consolidate efforts and take the LEAP Programme to greater heights. Mr. Mohammed Hashmin, Dean of MMDCEs in the Northern Region pledged the support of the MMDCEs and MMDCDs in the regions to the implementation of the LEAP Programme to ensure success.
SOURCE: GNA, MODERNGHANA.COM
FREE SHS A SIGNIFICANT TOOL FOR POVERTY ERADICATION-MINISTER
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Madam Otiko Afisah Djaba, has revealed that government’s free SHS is a significant tool to eradicate poverty in Ghana thereby contributing to improved livelihoods among Ghanaians.
She said this today April 4, 2018, during a one-day sensitization workshop for MMDCEs in the three regions of the north held in the Northern Regional capital, Tamale. The event was organized by the Secretariat of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program. The Minister explained that, education is crucial in the fight towards poverty eradication thus the free senior high school is keen in achieving this objective. Madam Otiko mentioned that, poverty is not for Ghanaians but rather a disease to Ghanaians which needs to be eliminated and for that matter the introduction of the LEAP program. She said, the program currently has over 213,044 beneficiary households across the 254 districts in the country which translates into about 937,904 individual beneficiaries.
The Gender Minister underscored the need to support the LEAP program saying, the new direction of the LEAP program is in accordance to the vision of President Nana Addo and his government to build a Ghana beyond aid. In a related development, the Northern Regional Minister Hon Salifu Saeed has implored all MMDCEs to consolidate their successes and take the LEAP program to a greater height by working closely with stakeholders of the program to address the challenges faced by the program. Hon. Salifu Saeed recounted the importance of the sensitization workshop stating that it would enable MMDCEs to acquire the relevant knowledge and skills on the LEAD program. “As MMDCEs you need to possess knowledge and skills on LEAP program and have clarity of their roles and responsibilities in order to be able to discharge your duties towards a successful implementation of the LEAP program in your respective areas” He urged.
SOURCE: RAINBOWRADIOONLINE.COM
‘WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE GHANA’ – GENDER MINISTER
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Madam Otiko Afisah Djaba has assured Ghanaians especially the vulnerable and marginalized in society that, government will change the face of the country through the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program. She said Ghana is the best place for every Ghanaian and ‘we need to feel good and proud about that by developing our communities so that people feel good about staying in there.’
The Minister disclosed that, some 2,188 households nation-wide are covered under the emergency LEAP. She revealed that, figures from the northern region alone are 1,142 households out of the total 2,188 expected to benefit from the emergency Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty. Hon Otiko mentioned that, the Sagnarigu municipality has the highest number with 540 households, followed by Nanumba North, 384 households and the Tamale metro with 218. “This is as a result of the floods that occurred last year, she noted further.” “We are increasing the LEAP from the 213, 000 plus to 456, 000 households and we have currently started the targeting in West Mamprusi, Savelugu municipality, Yendi, Central Gonja, Sagnarigu and Chereponi.
We are going through the targeting in all the 254 districts and I want plead with you to focus, look sharp and ensure that nobody is left out …the Regional Minister was talking about partisanship; you are here, poverty has no colour, so once the very vulnerable poor are in your districts, I want plead with you that, as the enumerators come along, you work with them, you monitor them, you evaluate them, if somebody is left out under all the category you are to draw their attention to it, so I plead with you to have several meetings with the DCEs in their districts so that we will know the total targets we are looking for and weather we are hitting the mark to ensure that we capture everybody, we are going to change this country and even move from the LEAP into a well-functioning and well-resourced social welfare state where nobody is left out or behind, she stated.”
Madam Otiko Afisah Djaba made these remarks during a sensitization forum for the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and their Coordinators from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions in Tamale on the LEAP program, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Meanwhile, the programme currently covers all 254 districts nation-wide with 213, 044 beneficiary households, which translates into about 937, 904 individuals. Out of the 937, 904 individual LEAP household members, women constitute 56% while men are 44%. In terms of the eligible categories; Orphan and Vulnerable Children are 42%; persons with severe disability 18%; Elders of 65 years and beyond 32%, extremely poor pregnant women and Infants are 1% and 7% respectively.
For his part, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Salifu Sa-eed was optimistic that, through the work shop, the MMDCEs and MMDCDs will acquire the relevant knowledge and skills on LEAP and best practices from their sister districts. He indicated that, consequently, you will be able to make informed choice and decisions on LEAP programmes, thus promoting easy access to social protection interventions towards meeting basic human needs of beneficiary households and also preventing the shortcomings that have characterized other social protection interventions in the past.
Mr. Salifu Sa-eed said in spite of the successes chalked under the program, LEAP still has its challenges. He added that, misconceptions about the programme among some sections of the population that LEAP makes people lazy; the limited coverage of the programme – not all extremely poor population of the 2.2 million is covered; and graduation and exit of beneficiaries. He implored the MMDCEs to work closely with other stakeholders to address the challenges being faced by the programme and urged further to consolidate their successes and take the LEAP programme to greater heights.
SOURCE: NORTHSTARFMONLINE.COM
52ND Cycle LEAP Payment
The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme since its inception in 2008 has been positively improving the conditions and life paths of its beneficiary household members, extreme poor and vulnerable persons in Ghana.
This month marks the 52nd Cycle LEAP Grant Payment of the Programme. The 52nd Cycle payment is scheduled for (Monday) 22nd to (Friday) 26th January 2018. This payment is for the months of November and December, 2017. At the pay points or banking halls in all the 216 Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assemblies (MMDAs), recipients undergo biometric verification to cash-out the grant.
One eligible member household receives GHC64.00, two eligible member household receives GHC76.00, while three eligible member household receives GHC88.00 and four and more eligible member household receives GHC106.00.
Beneficiaries are reminded not to give any portions of their cash grants to persons outside the household. They are also encouraged to report persons who try to extort monies from them by using the appropriate LEAP Programme Case Management Mechanisms.
We wish to thank our stakeholders/partners (DFID, World Bank, UNICEF, Civil Societies, and the Media) and the general public for their continued support towards the implementation and sustainability of the LEAP Programme.
Training of Trainers Workshop for DSWOs AND CSOs
Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) is a social protection intervention of the Government of Ghana with the aim of reducing extreme poverty by increasing consumption and nutrition, as well as promoting access to social services and opportunities among the extreme poor and vulnerable in the Ghana. As part of efforts to promote social accountability, human rights and active citizenship among beneficiary households, the LEAP Programme has developed a Beneficiary Charter of Rights and Responsibilities. The Charter outlines the rights and responsibilities of beneficiary household members and service providers. This is in recognition of the fact that often the rights of the extremely poor and vulnerable are prone to violation in the course asserting their rights and during service delivery. In view of the actual or potential abuse or violations of rights of especially LEAP households, the LEAP beneficiary rights and responsibilities Charter has been developed to guarantee and safeguard their rights. As LEAP households will be empowered to assert their rights; the Charter also reminds them of their responsibilities. To sensitize beneficiary households and other stakeholders on the Charter, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have been contracted to this assignment.
The engagement of CSOs for the sensitization is intended to enhance the independence and credibility of the sensitization processes. It is for this reason that the LEAP Management Secretariat organized a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop for District Social Welfare Officers (DSWOs) and the CSOs across the country. The ToT workshops were organized simultaneously in four centres across the country on the 28th December 2018 – Tamale, Obuasi, Larteh and Mankessim. These centres were based on the zoning of the regions into: Northern (Upper East, Upper West & Northern Regions); Middle (Brong Ahafo & Ashanti Regions) South-West (Greater Accra, Western & Central) and South-East (Eastern, Volta & Central Regions). Additionally, the workshop provided participants especially the CSOs a thorough overview of the LEAP Programme including its targeting and enrolment procedures and Payment mechanisms.
50th Cycle LEAP payment
The LEAP Programme since its inception in 2008 has been positively changing the life paths of many marginalized persons in Ghana.
This month marks The 50th Cycle LEAP payment, scheduled for 25th – 29th September 2017. During this period, beneficiary households will receive their cash grants in the 216 MMDAs (Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies)
One eligible member household will receive GHC64.00, two eligible member household will receive GHC76.00, while three eligible member household will receive GHC88.00 and four and more eligible member household will receive GHC106.00. These payments cover the months of July and August, 2017.
Beneficiaries are once again reminded not to give any portions of their cash grants to persons outside the household. they are also encouraged to report persons that try to extort monies from them using the LEAP Programme Case Management Mechanisms and systems or call the LEAP Management Secretariat on 0303969700
We wish to thank our stakeholders (Civil Societies, The Media, DFID World Bank, Unicef) and the general public for the continued support towards the implementation and sustainability of the LEAP Programme.
CASE MANAGEMENT TRAINING WORKSHOP AT TYCO CITY HOTEL, SUNYANI
Group Photograph – Hon Otiko Afisah Djaba with Female participants of the workshop
The LEAP Management Secretariat (LMS) trained selected DSWOs and CCPHs on a Revised Case Management Manual from 27-29th August 2017. Case Management deals with the grievances, claims, complaints and other issues of programme beneficiary household member information update from LEAP beneficiary households, and from other stakeholders of the LEAP programme. The essence of Case Management is to protect the rights and interest of beneficiary households and quality assurance of the programme.
Emmanuel K. Anipa, Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare welcoming Participants to the region and the workshop
The objectives of the training workshop were:
- To clarify roles & responsibilities of stakeholders on case management.
- Build consensus and solicit support of stakeholders for the programme’s effective implementation.
- Have a shared understanding of Case Management processes and build capacity of key stakeholders for case resolution.
- Build capacity of DSWOs to complete case and updates forms appropriately.
In attendance at the Training Workshop was HON. OTIKO AFISAH DJABA, MINISTER OF GENDER, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL PROTECTION. The honourable Minister encouraged participants to work harder to improve the lives of the extreme poor and vulnerable in Ghana. She also announce the refocusing of the programme into a “new LEAP”. The honourable Minister called the new LEAP programme, “CASH PLUS”. Cash plus is about productive inclusion of LEAP households to build their capacities for comfortable exit from the programme after two years of benefiting.
Case Management Training session
Mr Patrick Acheampong, Community Care Programme Heap of Brong Ahafo Region and a participant, introducing the Chairman for the Training Workshop
EA cross-section of Participants at the Case Management training workshop
Group photograph of participants with Hon Otiko Afisah Djaba (at the Middle), MoGCSP
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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).