Farmers in the middle and northern regions of the country who have been affected by recent drought conditions and are beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme are set to receive relief aid soon.

The drought has caused significant crop damage, leaving many farmers in urgent need of support.

In a media briefing in Tamale, Colson Akanbasiam, LEAP’s Head of Communications, announced that, as part of an inter-ministerial collaboration, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection will provide cash grants to vulnerable farmers impacted by the dry spell.

This initiative aligns with a previous announcement made by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The distribution of cash grants, initially scheduled to begin on October 12, has experienced delays. However, Mr. Akanbasiam assured that payments under the LEAP programme will commence by the end of the month for affected farmers.

He noted that while LEAP will manage a portion of the cash distribution, the Ministry of Agriculture will oversee the remainder.

“The ministry is dedicated to providing the cash grant. Very soon, we will begin payments. By the close of the month, I think everything should be in order. We were supposed to have done it earlier, but there have been delays,” he explained.

Each household from the eight drought-affected regions is set to receive a grant of GHC 1,000.

In a related development, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection has procured logistical support for districts implementing the LEAP programme.

Speaking during a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on LEAP beneficiary and community communication initiatives at the Global Dreams Hotel in Tamale, Jeremiah Yanney, Head of Management Information Systems (MIS) at LEAP, revealed that motorbikes, laptops, and tablets have been procured to enhance the efficiency of LEAP operations at the district level.

Jeremiah Yanney, Head of MIS

“We are procuring motorbikes for every implementing district, along with laptops and tablets, to assist in the day-to-day running of the program.

These will improve mobility for fieldwork, support payments in collaboration with financial institutions, and facilitate other LEAP activities,” Mr. Yanney said.