Assessing the Impact of the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (Leap): A Social Cash Transfer Program in Asutifi

ABSTRACT

The high level of poverty in Ghana led to the introduction of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Program in 2008 to decrease the chronic/shock-induced poverty, address social risks and reduce their economic vulnerability. Inconclusive findings on the effects of the program led to this study. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the socio- economic effects of the LEAP on beneficiaries, the challenges that the implementation of the LEAP faces, and solutions to these challenges. With reference to the Functionalist Theory and the Sustainable Livelihood Framework, a mixed method approach was adopted to collect qualitative data through interviews and quantitative data with the use of a questionnaire. One hundred and nineteen (119) respondents were sampled from a population of 711 in the Asutifi North and South Districts. The study found that LEAP has reduced social risks, improved food security, improved access to health, increased access to education by children from beneficiary households and increased the access of beneficiaries to credit facilities. The challenges identified by the study to be hindering the implementation of the LEAP, included insufficiency of the funds, extortion of monies from the beneficiaries, lack of updated data, and political interference. The study suggests that the provision of economic rewards for Community Focal Persons, the need to adequately resource the secretariats responsible for LEAP implementation, and the regular review of grants for beneficiaries can help maximize the intended effects of the program.