The two policies dubbed “Child and Family and Justice for Children Policies” programme, seeks to provide a holistic approach to the protection of the most vulnerable in the Ghanaian society, and was launched by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in 2005 with support from UNICEF.

The Head of Local Government in charge of Administration, Dr. Margaret Sackey, disclosed these in a Citi News interview on the sidelines of a stakeholder engagement with Assembly Members, Queen Mothers, educational authorities, women groups, health practitioners, security personnel and head of departments (HODs) in the Asutifi North District of the Brong Ahafo Region.

According to her, beneficiary MMDAs are expected to fashion out strategies and programmes on how to implement the policies by establishing a framework to give guidance on how child and family welfare should be perceived and addressed.

“It is a programme or framework that enables MMDAs to contextualize or localize the policies taking into consideration their own challenges and situations of children in their environment”, she explained.

She mentioned that the traditional belief that children need to be seen and not heard, and the incoherent disconnect in the implementation of child policies between the formal and informal sectors was a major challenge to the success of the policies, but was hopeful the implementation of the two policies will address this challenge.

She, therefore, appealed to participants to come up with their framework taking into consideration the area’s own peculiarities of children, and develop some guidelines and activities that help in attaining goals of the policies.

The District Director of the Department of Social Development, Peter Duayah, said the implementation of government’s social intervention programmes such as Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), has socially and economically empowered the vulnerable in the society from extreme poverty and exclusion.

He however appealed for the timely release of funds to serve its intended purpose, and assured of his outfit’s commitment to implement the various social interventions as a tool for poverty eradication to bridge the inequality gap in society.

Mr. Duayah noted the successful implementation of the policies would not only create stronger social protection framework, but unite families to tap into potentials of their children and commended the assembly for their support.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to the President, such aid programmes and initiatives must be structured to enable beneficiaries strike out to lead an independent life.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ZwOeJKvqaPZbtNiNqR2Ukrs9cxXyaX0M”]“I remember when the LEAP programme was envisaged and introduced under President Kufuor, we were clear in our minds that, whereas we wanted it to cover all those who would qualify under the definition of the programme, it was meant to be a hand-up, not a hand-out,” he said.

The President continued, “If someone has to go on the LEAP programme, it should not be for the rest of that person’s life. There should be a definite time limit to being a LEAP beneficiary, and the beneficiary should be able to stand on his or her own after the stated period.”

President Akufo-Addo made this known on Friday, 21 April 2017, when he delivered the keynote address at the 4th Rotary International District 9102 Conference, held at the Accra International Conference Centre.

The President, himself a Paul Harris Fellow of The Rotary Club, Accra South, explained that after 60 years of independence, “I want us, in Ghana, to break out from our aid dependent and charity driven economic outlook. I want programmes that would be dynamic in content and help us to think big and be dissatisfied with remaining poor.”

Touching in the “Six Areas of Focus of Rotary”, President Akufo-Addo noted that members of the Rotary Club have always been well placed to influence events and policies in Ghana.

In the area of health, he stated the infection rates of poliomyelitis, one of the six childhood killer diseases, had been reduced from an annual worldwide infection rate of 350,000 cases in over 125 countries, to a mere 75 cases in only 3 countries. This feat, he noted, has been achieved thanks to the efforts of Rotary.

“You have taken on the other great killer of our part of the world, malaria, and I wish to congratulate Rotary on your Roll Back Malaria project. It does look as though we are finally making headway in the fight against malaria. This is also the result of collaboration between government and non-governmental organizations.

Touching on the Water and Sanitation area of focus, President Akufo-Addo stated that “I am pleased to learn that you have started the second phase of a US$6 million Rotary International/USAID Water Collaboration. We could not ask for a better partner than Rotary as we seek to implement our government’s programme to provide potable water and good sanitation to all our people”.

On Basic Education and Literacy, another area of focus of Rotary, the President stressed that “education is the only way to give a good head start and provide equal opportunities for all our children. This government believes that a lot hangs on the success of our education programmes, and we welcome enthusiastically all the help that we can get from organizations such as Rotary in delivering quality education to our people.”

President Akufo-Addo also charged Rotary to partner with the Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development, in its Economic and Community Development area of focus, in the development of initiatives and projects which would help people in the rural areas, in particular those who are dependent on such initiatives.

He also urged Rotary to partner government in in the Planting for Food and Jobs programme, which was launched in Goaso, in the Brong Ahafo Region, on Wednesday, April 19, and also in the implementation of the 1-District-1-Factory programme.

“It is a programme in which private sector participation is essential. Come and join us make a success of it. You have a lot of people with good business acumen and experience amongst your ranks. There are a lot of opportunities and I invite you to join us bring prosperity to our people,” he added.

In concluding, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that “we are determined to build a new Ghanaian and African civilisation, where the rule of law works, where individual liberties and human rights are respected, and where the principles of democratic accountability are the foundation of public policy. We are determined to forge a new Ghanaian and African, who is neither a victim nor a pawn of the world economic order, but who will be a dignified member of a successful, thriving, prosperous society.”

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Source: The Presidency

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Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba, the Sector Minister, said government intends to compliment the cash transfer component of LEAP households with skills development to help people out of poverty.

Madam Djaba indicated that 16 million Ghana cedis had been earmarked for the disbursement under the LEAP programme for 213,048 households across the country.

She said the Ministry is working on skills training (development) modules for individuals so that after they are equipped they can be weaned off the LEAP programme gradually.

Some skills development modules under the LEAP programme, include piggery, kente and basket weaving.

However, she said, the skills development would depend on the needs of an area or a district.

Madam Djaba noted that households with women as heads would be targeted adding “as government we have plans to refocus the LEAP programme to ensure that it does not become a source of political patronage.”

In this regard, the Minister said the sector would adopt effective and accurate testing to identify and enroll deserving beneficiary households with the female-headed households as the Ministry’s target.

Currently in the Upper East Region, the Ministry and the Japanese Government has commenced a pilot programme in the design of various handicrafts, she said, and expressed optimism that they would be exported to fetch income for the households.

Madam Djaba said the LEAP programme, which currently covered 216 districts, would be extended by December, this year, to cover all districts.

She said 11 districts in Ashanti and Greater Accra regions which were not under the LEAP programme would soon be covered.

The Minister said the programme intended to roll out adult education to beneficiaries so they could learn numeracy skills to have control over their money and accounts.

Touching on the benefits of the LEAP programme, Madam Djaba said more than 90,000 households had been registered free-of-charge onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

She said this had been factored into the LEAP programme to ensure LEAP beneficiaries receive better health care.

The Minister said studies into the programme had shown 12 per cent increase in school enrolment of children.

“A study by the University of North Carolina and ISSER has shown a significant increase in livelihood savings and gift received. LEAP has had impact on debt repayment and reduced loan holdings among female headed households,” she said.

LEAP, one of the flagship programmes of the Ministry which commenced in 2008, formed part of six interventions in the social protection basket.

The other interventions include Ghana school feeding, capitation grant, and free school uniform and exercise books.

LEAP is a cash transfer programme for the extremely poor and vulnerable households which had orphans and vulnerable children, persons with severe disability without any productive capacity, elderly persons 65 years and above, pregnant women and children under two years.

One eligible member household receives GH¢ 64.00, two and three eligible member household receive GH¢ 76.00 and GH¢ 88.00 respectively. Four or more eligible member households receive GH¢ 106.00.

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Source: GNA

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