UK government doles out £36 million to support LEAP

UK government is pledging £36 million for the implementation of the improved Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP).

The Ghana government only last week re-launched the programme with a promise by the Vice President John Mahama that the amount given under the social protection will be tripled.

The cash grant programme is set to support over 700,000 poor people by 2016.

The British government has pledged its commitment to assist with the implementation of the project.

A statement from the High Commission said the UK government through the Department for International Development (DFID) is committing £36 million for the implementation of the project.

“UK aid from the Department for International Development (DFID) has committed to provide £36 million to support LEAP between 2012 and 2016. The Government of Ghana will fully finance the programme from 2017,” the statement said.

In the statement, Sally Taylor, Country Director of DFID Ghana said that “this cash transfer programme is one of the most powerful and direct ways of helping Ghana’s poorest people. We will work closely in partnership with the Government of Ghana to deliver support that will improve thousands of people’s lives.”

The full statement is as follows;

Last week, Vice President John Mahama re-launched the Livelihoods Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), Ghana’s flagship social protection programme, which will give cash grants to support over 700,000 poor people by 2016.

The Government of Ghana will triple the size of the grant given to beneficiaries to 36 GHC per household. UK aid will help fund these payments. The grants will be carefully targeted at the poorest households which include the elderly, severely disabled, orphans and vulnerable children. The programme should reduce poverty, improve health and nutrition, and help households develop their livelihoods.

As well as tripling the size of the grant, a common targeting mechanism has been developed to help ensure support reaches the people who need it most. It is expected that in the future the programme will use new technology like smart cards and mobile phones to distribute the grants, ensuring they reach the people who need them most quickly and effectively.

UK aid from the Department for International Development (DFID) has committed to provide £36 million to support LEAP between 2012 and 2016. The Government of Ghana will fully finance the programme from 2017.

Sally Taylor, Country Director of DFID Ghana said that “this cash transfer programme is one of the most powerful and direct ways of helping Ghana’s poorest people. We will work closely in partnership with the Government of Ghana to deliver support that will improve thousands of people’s lives.”

This support is part of DFID’s broader programme in Ghana which is rising from £80 million in 2011 to £100 million in 2015. DFID Ghana’s overall programme has a strong focus on reducing poverty in the North of Ghana, helping women and girls, and improving the quality of education and health.

For further information please contact:

Henry Donati | Aid Effectiveness and Strategy Manager | DFID Ghana | |Mobile +233 (0) 225 3243 / 211 290 | Email: h-donati@dfid.gov.uk |