The disbursement of the livelihood empowerment against poverty (LEAP) funds which was slated to have begun some four months back but had to be put on hold due to the conflict in Bawku at the time has finally taken off in a grant style.
In all, 97 people from four different communities benefited from a total cash transfer of GH¢2092. The communities included Barebare, south Natinga, Zawse and Yarigungu all within the Bawku Municipality.
The beneficiary received cash transfers ranging from GH¢ 16 to GH¢ 30.
According to the Bawku Municipal Director of social welfare, Mr J.B Ayaya the preparation to disburse these funds started in 2007 during which all communities were sanitized.
On the criteria for selection of people to benefit from the LEAP funds among other things included people who could not meet their daily or basic needs and also for people who were taking care of the disable and orphans.
“Even with these criteria it was the people themselves who identified who should benefit and also selected people who should over see the entire process. The staff of social welfare then went through the list of names; cross examined the list and made the necessary correction before the final list was concluded.” He explained.
Mr. Ayaya said the money is not free money as is being misinterpret in some quarters rather beneficiaries have to meet some conditions to enable them continue to receive the cash transfers.
He said all beneficiaries have to ensure that after taking the money, their children are enrolled in schools, register with NHIS, birth and death, complete their immunizations, and should not engage their children in child labor or allow them to be trafficked.
The Regional Director of social welfare Mr. Christopher Baboro said the LEAP program is not a mine day wonder because it has come to stay and in five years time all districts would be covered.
He said, there cash transfers are not aimed at vote buying but to assist some people who otherwise could not stand on their own.
We know that this money is not so big but would go along way to supplement the feeding of the benefiting households and individuals – He said.
The Regional Director of Ghana Post Mr. Ali Dakurah said Ghana post is happy to be a collaborator of this kind gesture of the government to assist the needed. He Ghana post provides several services which includes the instant money transfer.
He explained that it is through this instant money transfer that the LEAP funds are transmitted before disbursement is made to the beneficiaries.
The Bawku Municipal Chief Executive Hon.Abudulai Abanga was grateful to the NPP government for choosing the Bawku Municipality to be part of the 31districts nation wide to pilot this laudable program.
Hon. Abanga said this disbursement is the third cycle of payment however the beneficiaries within the municipality could not receive the 1st and 2nd cycles due to the conflict.
“Peace is an inevitable component of development and progress and any body that leaves without it would remain backwards.” He said.
He appealed to the people to give peace a chance and exercise maximum restraint in order to sustain the current prevailing peace in Bawku.
“With the situation now returning to normal I would urge everybody to use the security agencies and appropriate medium to seek for redness.” The MCE advised
He stated categorically that he the MCE and government have no interest what soever in the conflict or misunderstanding in Bawku and so would never ever take side.
He advised the people not to allow any politician to use the conflict as campaign material rather when such politicians come they should politely tell them to leave the conflict situation out of their politics.
The beneficiaries expressed their joy and thankfulness to the government when they received the money and wished the government continuous in office to help other people through its good policies.
JAMES DORGBETOR
MUNICIPAL INFORMATION OFFICER
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