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Don’t delay payment of LEAP grants to beneficiaries – SEND Ghana
The Deputy Director of SEND Ghana, Dr. Emmanuel Ayifah, has appealed to the government not to delay the payment of cash grants to beneficiaries under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme.
He said the “consistent delay” in payment of the grant was worsening the plight of the beneficiaries hence government must take urgent steps to settle all arrears for 2021.
Dr. Ayifah, speaking in an interview with The Spectator, said there were delays in payment of the grant in January 2021 and that payments starting from April to August 2021 were still in arrears.
He said that, as a result of the delay in payment, some beneficiaries had resorted to borrowing, which was not “appropriate considering the financial standing of these vulnerable persons.”
“In 2019, SEND Ghana made a similar appeal to the government to pay the beneficiaries on time and our call was heard but, unfortunately, this same trend is occurring this year.
“The GH¢ 64 paid per household is already insufficient and the delay is worsening their plight. Some of them continue to live on the benevolence of others and this is a problem,” he noted.
For effective social protection delivery, Dr. Ayifah said government should, in the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, consider establishing a fund to support and sustain social protection programmes.
“Apart from LEAP, it is important to provide funding for other social protection programmes in general. When the fund is established, other persons in the private sector may contribute to it just as they did for the COVID-19 fund,” he added.
Dr. Ayifah again identified lack of comprehensive data as one of the reasons social interventions did not reach “the right beneficiaries.”
He said available data indicated that there were 2.7 million extremely poor persons in the country but beneficiaries of social intervention policies such as LEAP were fewer than this figure.
He, therefore, urged the government to “focus on completing the Ghana National Household Registry” so there would be a comprehensive data on the number of poor persons in the country.
“Only five out of the 16 regions have complete data in the Registry. This means we are left with a lot more to be done,” he said.
SEND Ghana wants the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to fast-track passage of the social protection bill so that issues regarding social interventions and social protection could be effectively managed.
By Ernest Nutsugah
President John Dramani Mahama joined the National Chief Imam, Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, and the Muslim community at the Black Star Square for Eid ul-Fitr prayers, marking the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan.
In his address, the President underscored that Eid represents not only a moment of celebration but also a call to sustain the values of discipline, sacrifice, and compassion cultivated during Ramadan. He urged Ghanaians to carry forward the spirit of the holy month in their daily interactions, promoting unity, tolerance, and mutual respect.
President Mahama reaffirmed government’s commitment to inclusive national development, emphasizing that efforts are being made to ensure that progress reaches every part of the country. He noted that national development requires a shared responsibility between government and citizens.
Highlighting Ghana’s long-standing tradition of religious harmony, the President described the nation as a shining example of peaceful coexistence and called on all citizens to safeguard this unity by rejecting division and fostering national cohesion.
The National Chief Imam commended the President for his leadership and fulfillment of commitments to the Ghanaian people, and offered prayers for his continued strength, wisdom, and success. He further called on all government appointees to support the President in advancing policies aimed at improving the lives of citizens.
The President also extended his warm wishes to all Muslims in Ghana on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr and prayed for continued peace, stability, and prosperity for the nation.
The Government of Ghana says it will engage authorities in Burkina Faso following the West African country’s recent ban on the export of fresh tomatoes.
The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry confirmed in a press release that the ban, which took effect on March 16, 2026, has prompted Ghana to open discussions with its neighbours to find a mutually beneficial solution.
The government said the talks will involve relevant state institutions and aim to address concerns surrounding the suspension while protecting the interests of Ghanaian traders and consumers.
The ministry urged tomato traders to remain calm as efforts are underway to secure an amicable resolution.
The ministry reiterated its commitment to boosting local tomato production through the “Feed Ghana” and “Feed the Industry” programmes.
These initiatives it said are designed to increase domestic output to meet market demand and reduce reliance on imports.
By: Jacob Aggrey
