Farouk Aliu Mahama Condemns Alleged Politicisation of LEAP Beneficiary Selection in Yendi
Former Member of Parliament for the Yendi Constituency, Hon. Farouk Aliu Mahama, has expressed deep concern over reports alleging that names of genuine beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme in the Yendi Municipality have been removed and replaced with individuals believed to be supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Hon. Farouk Aliu Mahama condemned the alleged action, describing it as deeply troubling and calling for beneficiary selection under the programme to be based strictly on need and eligibility rather than political affiliation.
In a statement, the former MP stressed that poverty and vulnerability have no political colour and that social intervention programmes such as LEAP must not be politicised.
The LEAP programme was introduced to provide financial support to extremely poor and vulnerable households, including orphans and vulnerable children, persons with severe disabilities and elderly persons without adequate support.
According to Hon. Farouk Aliu Mahama, it would be unfair for qualified beneficiaries to lose their support merely to create space for individuals selected on political grounds.
He recalled that during his tenure as Member of Parliament for Yendi, he advocated for the expansion of the LEAP programme in the constituency rather than the removal of existing beneficiaries.
He said his lobbying efforts contributed to increasing the number of LEAP beneficiaries in Yendi from approximately 3,000 to about 7,000, representing an increase of more than 130 percent.
Hon. Farouk Aliu Mahama has therefore called on the current Member of Parliament for Yendi and the Municipal Chief Executive to lobby for an expansion of the programme to accommodate more vulnerable people instead of allegedly removing qualified beneficiaries.
He further urged the relevant authorities to investigate the concerns surrounding the alleged removal of beneficiaries and ensure that all qualified persons are treated fairly, regardless of their political affiliation.
The former MP maintained that the LEAP programme must remain a social protection intervention designed to support Ghana's most vulnerable citizens and should not be used as a tool for political patronage.I can also make it more like a hard-hitting Tamale News Agency political news story, with a stronger headline and lead.
Source: Northwebonline.com
