A total of 277 residents in the Tema Metropolis, have so far benefited from the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme since its inception in March 2008.
The beneficiaries include orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), persons with severe disabilities, and the aged above 65 years without subsistent
support.
Mr George De-Graft Assan, Tema Metropolitan Social Welfare Officer, who announced this to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday, said the Tema
Metropolitan office of the Social Welfare Department, has expanded the programme to cover 417 beneficiaries this year.
The areas covered were Appollonia, Zenu, Tema Manhean, Kpone-Bawaleshie, Kpone, some parts of Communities "1" and "5", as well as Sakumono village and Ashaiman.
Mr Assan stated that a total of GH¢26,830 had so far been disbursed to the beneficiaries adding that they received their disbursement every two months.
Mr Assan was, however, quick to add that no payment had been done since November 2009 and that his outfit and Ghana Post Company (GPC) hoped to effect the next payment April this month.
Mr Assan explained that the Company would receive the money from government and then assist the Department to disburse it.
The Social Welfare Officer stated that his outfit was responsible for identifying the beneficiaries through the help of the Community LEAP Implementation Committee, a committee made up of Unit Committee Members, Assembly Members and opinion leaders.
Mr Assan further said the Department also counselled beneficiaries on how to use the money and also the need to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
He said a household with one beneficiary was entitled to GH¢8.0, while those with two beneficiaries received GH¢10.
Households with three beneficiaries are given GH¢12 and those with four or more receive GH¢15.
Mr Assan advised beneficiaries to put the money into economic ventures
to help better their standards of living adding.
He added that by using the money judiciously, beneficiaries could be
taken off the programme when their livelihoods improved to enable others to also benefit.