Social intervention in limbo: LEAP beneficiaries in Yendi protest removal of names from programme
A group of elderly persons and Persons Living with Disabilities who are beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme in the Yendi Municipality have raised concerns over the removal of their names from the programme without any explanation.
The LEAP programme, introduced under the John Agyekum Kufuor administration in 2008, was designed to provide cash support to extremely poor and vulnerable households to help them meet their basic needs and improve their livelihoods.
The affected beneficiaries say the removal of their names has left them worried and uncertain about their source of support, particularly as many of them depend on the LEAP payments to meet their basic needs.
Convener of the group, Inusah Fuseini, addressing journalists at the Yendi Municipal Assembly, expressed disappointment over the development and questioned why their names had been removed from the programme.
According to him, the affected beneficiaries have made several attempts to ascertain the reasons for the removal of their names, but their efforts have so far yielded no results.
Mr. Fuseini further alleged that some of the beneficiaries who have been removed have been replaced with persons who are capable of working and do not fall within the category of vulnerable people targeted by the programme. He appealed to the Yendi Municipal Assembly and relevant authorities to investigate the matter and restore the names of genuine beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, former Yendi Member of Parliament, Hon. Farouk Aliu Mahama, has expressed concern over the alleged removal of genuine LEAP beneficiaries in the municipality and their replacement with names he claims are those of NDC party foot soldiers.
In a statement, Dr. Farouk Aliu Mahama condemned the alleged action, stressing that poverty and vulnerability have no political colour and that the selection of LEAP beneficiaries must be based solely on need and eligibility rather than political affiliation.
He said LEAP was established to support extremely poor and vulnerable households, including orphans and vulnerable children, persons with severe disabilities and the elderly.
The former MP further disclosed that during his tenure as Member of Parliament for Yendi, he advocated for the expansion of the programme rather than the removal of existing beneficiaries. He claimed that through his lobbying efforts, the number of LEAP beneficiaries in Yendi increased from approximately 3,000 to 7,000, representing an increase of more than 130 percent.
Dr. Farouk Aliu Mahama therefore called on the current Member of Parliament and the Municipal Chief Executive to focus on lobbying for an expansion of the programme instead of removing qualified beneficiaries.
He also urged the relevant authorities to ensure that qualified persons, regardless of their political affiliation, are fairly considered under the programme.
