Bongo (UE), Oct. 15, GNA - The World Bank and the World Food Programme (WFP) are disbursing 157,500 Ghana cedis cash transfer to 5,250 people in five districts in the Upper East Region as an emergency relief package to mitigate their plight. The beneficiary districts, which were affected by the flood and the drought last year are Bongo, Talensi-Nabdam, Builsa, Garu-Tempani and Kassena-Nankana. 1050 people from each district are to benefit from the package.

Mr Christopher Babooroh, Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare said the emergency relief package, which was being implemented by the Department through the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) would last for six months. He said each household would receive 30 Ghana cedis for two months at the commencement of the programme with the remainder to be paid in subsequent months. Mr Babooroh said the Bongo District was the first among the districts to receive payment that would be administered by Ghana Post. He said the programme was targeted at meeting the Millennium Development Goals and would be converted into the LEAP programme to benefit the poor in future. He said the money was not to buy votes and entreated the beneficiaries to use it judiciously to meet the needs of their families. Ms Victoria Natsu, Leader of the monitoring team from the Department of Social Welfare Headquarters emphasized that the cash transfer was not given on political grounds but meant to help the poor.

Mr Francis Akurugu Asampana, Bongo District Chief Executive commended the World Bank, WFP and other organizations which supported the people during the 2007 flood. He said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was sensitive to the suffering of the people and that it was ready to help whenever the need arose. Mr Asampana said the NPP government did not discriminate and cited the numerous pro-poor policies and programmes it had initiated. He appealed to the electorate to renew their mandate for the party to continue with its good works. 15 Oct. 08