The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has held a stakeholder engagement on the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme in Tamale, Northern region.
The programme is designed to promote the use of cash grants and access to social services, as a catalyst to reduce poverty by smoothening consumption, improving welfare, and fostering long-term human capital development among the extremely poor and vulnerable.
The stakeholder engagement brought together participants from Upper West, Upper East, Northern East, Northern, Savannah, and Bono East regions.
Officials from the Ministries of Finance, Local Government Decentralisation, and Rural Development, other agencies, and development partners participated in the stakeholder engagement.
The Deputy Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu was of the view that the LEAP programme has encountered some challenges but was optimistic that the stakeholder engagement will provide lasting solutions to some of the challenges which will go a long way to improve and enhance the programme for the benefit of the vulnerable in society.
She urged the stakeholders to take the engagement seriously and try to work effectively to improve the programme.
Madam Abudu reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that the LEAP programme is sustainable and beneficial to the vulnerable in society.
The Head of the LEAP Programme, Dr. Myles Ongoh, indicated the purpose of the stakeholder engagement is to come together and discuss challenges and difficulties facing the LEAP programme and how to find permanent solutions to ensure that the programme is efficient and effective.
According to him, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ministry of Finance are in talks to review the cash amount allocated upwards for beneficiaries.
He assured beneficiaries of a timely and efficient payment system after the stakeholder engagement adding that the government is committed to supporting the poor in society.
The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme is funded by the World Bank with support from the government of Ghana.
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).