Regional News of Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Source: Today Newspaper

Increase LEAP support - Assemblyman appeals

Assemblyman for Krobo Ahwiamu Electoral Area in the Hemang-Lower-Denkyira District of the Central region, Prince Nana Sanka, has appealed to the ministry of gender, children and social protection to, as a matter of urgency, increase the number of beneficiaries under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme in his area.

According to the assemblyman, considering the level of poverty in the area, there was the need for government to ensure that as many as possible benefit from the programme in the deprived area to makes their lives better.

He disclosed that out of the over 3,000 residents in the electoral area only 105 people are beneficiaries of the programme which according to him is woefully inadequate.
“When you talk about poverty, you need not look beyond my electoral area. There are so many people who cannot afford even a meal a day but only a few of them are benefitting from the LEAP programme,” he lamented.

“Even when they fall sick, if I or none of our leaders go to their aid, they will be left to die because they do not have the money to go to the hospital. Life in this area is very difficult coupled with the current economic situation in the country so I want government to come to our aid,” he appealed.

Mr. Sanka, who is also one of the Central regional reporters of Peace FM in Accra, made this known in an exclusive interview with Today at Jukwa Krobo on Monday.

“I have become the only hope for my people and it has become unbearable for me to deal with all their pressing needs”, he pointed out.

He indicated that the five communities in the electoral area, Krobo, Ahwiamu, Go slow, Kyireayiwa and Nkokroso have been denied of the fair share of the national cake for a long time and called on government to attend to their needs since they area also Ghanaians.

“Our roads are not accessible, we don’t have potable water, schools are in deplorable condition and all these have contributed in gradually making the once vibrant farming area a dead one”, he bemoaned.

He has, therefore, called on charitable organisations and cooperate bodies to extend a helping hand to them to help release the burden on government.

“Everything from clothes to food to social amenities will be much appreciated to help put smiles on the faces of the people,” he appealed.