The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection will today disburse a total amount of Ghc 9,128,856 to 72,780 beneficiary households of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme in 100 districts in all the 10 regions of the country.

The amount, which is the Government of Ghana's social intervention cash payments for the extreme poor, is for March to June 2014.

The LEAP is the flagship programme of Ghana's National Social Protection Strategy administered by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection under the Department of Social welfare. The programme aims to improve the socio-economic status of the poorest households, to promote the survival and development of their children and to promote the welfare of the vulnerable and excluded in the society.

A statement signed and issued in Accra by the Communication and Advisor to the Ministry, Mrs Mercy C. Adjabeng, explained while 8,324 beneficiary households in 10 districts from seven regions will receive their payments electronically, 64,456 would be paid manually.

The electronic payment, the statement said, was the Ministry's latest innovation in the cash transfer programme aimed at reducing transaction costs for government and recipients, faster payments and reconciliation after payments, reducing waiting and travel times for beneficiaries as well as promoting financial inclusion and supporting the trend of cashless transactions among others.

“A significant number of 7,860 Persons with disability households currently benefit from the cash grant transfer programme. As the programme expands to cover another 4,676 households, this number of persons with severe disability and no productive capacity is expected to increase.”

The statement explained how through the LEAP Programme, the Ghanaian Government was improving the lives of its citizens, reducing the level of poverty in the nation and increasing the socio-economic standard. “Many households and individuals have been able to provide for their basic needs, and had access to education, health and food. Beneficiaries have also had some capital to start small-scale business ventures for sustainable income to ultimately stay out of abject poverty.”

It added:“this economic growth is within the framework of the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSRDA). This also complements the vision of the MDGs, which were designed to rid the world of the extremes of poverty.

“As the country strives to attain improved economic status, it is important that we ensure equitable and sustainable development towards a positive social change by putting in such interventions that would address issues of vulnerability.

“The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social protection reiterates its commitment to ensuring the protection of the vulnerable and promotion of gender equality through the design and implementation of policies and programmes that address such needs.”