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SEND GHANA, a non-governmental organization, called on the government to urgently release funds for LEAP and other pro-poor interventions to save beneficiaries from starving to death.
The NGO lamented what it describes as the government’s demonstrated lack of commitment to release funds for the timely payment of subsidies to households based on the Livelihoods Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program. Across the country.
In their view, while the government has done well in supporting the poor over the years, long delays in payments could derail the gains made so far.
“We demand an immediate release of funds for the 73rd and 74th round payments. Any further delay will only exacerbate the hardships of long-suffering households. It is incumbent on the government to place great importance on the payments of the LEAP grant, ”noted Country Director Dr Emmanuel Ayifa, speaking to reporters in Accra on Tuesday.
The country director told reporters that recipients have yet to receive their cash assistance for the 73rd round of payments due in July. It is however not clear, he added, when the 74th cycle, which is also now due, will be paid.
The current late payment is therefore a disapproval of the original intention of its creation in 2007.
This has resulted in the denial of income to 344,023 households made up of approximately 1.5 million (1,516,421) Ghanaians who depend on LEAP for their daily subsistence.
“SEND GHANA would like to reiterate that we are deeply concerned about this situation, and our concern is confirmed by the fact that those affected include orphans and vulnerable children, people living with severe disabilities and the elderly without any support.
“The public is rapidly losing confidence in the effectiveness of LEAP and other social protection programs in overcoming poverty and tackling inequalities, due to endemic delays in the payment of grants to beneficiaries,” Dr Ayifah stressed.
Reminding the government of citizens’ right to social protection, Dr Ayifah called for its commitment to protect these rights, especially in these times when Covid-19 has worsened economic conditions for the general population.
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