Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme, which has been in operation since 2008, recently garnered commendation from Stéphane Roudet, the International Monetary Fund’s Mission Chief for Ghana. Roudet recognizes LEAP as one of the most effective initiatives the present government has implemented.
Established by the Ghanaian government, the LEAP Programme functions as a financial safety net for those living in dire poverty. Its chief objective is to alleviate poverty by offering monetary aid to Ghana’s most vulnerable citizens. This aid helps increase their access to essential services and opportunities, and concurrently, works to stabilize and boost their overall consumption.
During an insightful segment on Citi TV, Mr. Roudet offered a detailed analysis of the LEAP programme’s significant achievements in alleviating poverty in Ghana. He unveiled that a series of productive discussions have been set in motion between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the top echelons of the Ghanaian government. These talks aim to explore and pinpoint potential strategies to bolster and maximize the advantages of the programme for its beneficiaries.
He further elucidated, “Observing the substantial rise in the allocations for the LEAP programme in the 2023 fiscal year, it’s evident to us that the initiative is not just operational but also remarkably effective. Our ongoing consultations with the Ghanaian leadership are geared towards securing commitments that future budgets will be strategically planned, ensuring that they incorporate provisions to elevate the benefits and reach of the LEAP initiative.”
The commendation from the IMF, an institution of global repute, shines a spotlight on the indispensable role the LEAP programme plays in Ghana’s overarching strategy to eradicate poverty. As the nation embarks on its ambitious journey to transform the lives of its citizens, especially those grappling with the hardships of extreme poverty, the expansion and judicious resource allocation to the LEAP programme, particularly in the 2023 fiscal blueprint, bodes well for the realization of Ghana’s long-term developmental aspirations.
