LEAP STARTS IN BAWKU (D/G Monday September 1, 2008 PAGE 36)

Ninety-Seven households drawn from four communities in the Bawku Municipality have received the first batch of grants under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP).
The beneficiaries could not participate in the first and second nationwide disbursement due to the conflict that rocked the Bawku Municipality from the beginning of this year, but this round has become possible as a result of the current peace in the area.
Four communities from where the 97 households are benefiting from the LEAP are South Natinga, Zawse, Baribari and Yarigungu.
A total of GH¢2,092 was disbursed by officials of Ghana Post in the presence of the Officers of the Social Welfare Department and the Municipal Chief Executive, Abdulai Abanga.
Beneficiaries had amounts ranging from GH¢16.00 to GH¢30.00. The District Director of Social Welfare Department, J.B. Ayaya, said it was quite unfortunate that the people of the area had to miss two chances to get their cash grant as a result of the insecurity that engulfed the area around the months of March and May when the first and second nationwide disbursements were made.
According to him, the LEAP is aimed at improving the livelihood of the very poor and vulnerable in society and so anything or group that obstructs this purpose should be exposed by all who cherish development and growth of the weak.
Beneficiaries of the LEAP are expected to enrol and retain their children in school at least through Basic Education. All children in beneficiary households are to be registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme and also register with the Births and Deaths Registry.
New babies in the beneficiary households should be made available for all immunisations and no child in the beneficiary households should be given up for trafficking.
Mr Abanga, for his part, called on communities to report anyone they suspected of or saw as promoting conflict and disturbances in the area to the police for the appropriate action to be taken and should not take any violent action to correct a mistake.