Tema, Aug 23, GNA - The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme has been expanded to cover more beneficiaries in the Tema Metropolis with 393 beneficiaries receiving their disbursement in February this year as against 277 who benefited in 2009.

The beneficiaries include orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), persons with severe disabilities and the aged above 65 years without subsistent support.

Mr George De-Graft Assan, Tema Metropolitan Social Welfare Officer, told the GNA in an interview that that beneficiaries were drawn from Appollonia, Zenu, Tema Manhean, Kpone-Bawaleshie, Kpone, some parts of Communities One and Five in Tema, as well as Sakumono village and Ashaiman.

Mr Assan said 470 people in the Metropolis have also been screened to be added to the programme.

He said households with one eligible beneficiary were entitled to eight Ghana Cedis, while those with two beneficiaries received GH¢10.

Households with three beneficiaries were given GH¢12 and those with four or more beneficiaries got GH¢15.

Mr Assan said apart from being responsible for identifying the beneficiaries, his outfit also counselled them on how to use the money judiciously and this include the need to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).