The Ministry of Gender and Social Protection in collaboration with UNICEF and the Ga West Municipal Assembly have held a dialogue with some vulnerable citizens and beneficiaries of their social intervention programs at Kutunse in the Ga West Municipality to improve the relationship of Social Protection Program beneficiaries and stake holders for effective and efficient programme delivery. The meeting was held on Tuesday, 16th July,2024 under the theme “Addressing poverty and inequality through right- based social protection in Ghana”.

Miss Evelyn notified members of the community present on hw to be enrolled as a beneficiary. She further explained that households with members who are orphans or have extreme disabilities and the aged above the age of 65 years with no family support, or poor pregnant women and poor mothers with infants under 1 year. She also told them that there has been 100% increment in the amount paid to of the LEAP beneficiaries. Initially a household with 1 beneficiary received GH¢128.00 now GH¢256.00, those with 2 beneficiaries received GH¢152 now GH¢ 304.00. Again, households with 3 beneficiaries who used to receive GH¢ 176.00 now receive GH¢ 352.00 and households with 4 or more beneficiaries who received GH¢ 212.00 now receive GH¢ 424.00. All beneficiaries present confirmed the increment and acknowledged receipt of their payments in the previous week. The amount is paid into beneficiaries e-zwich cards.

She said the selection process for LEAP beneficiaries begins with a Public Information Campaign, followed by data collection, then selection is done at the LEAP office, then the Department of Social welfare will verify whether or not the selected beneficiaries really need help then beneficiaries will select both primary and secondary care givers for their data to be captured for collection of funds.

Education was given on other social intervention programs like the Education Capitation Grant under which education at the basic levels is free. Then the free Senior High School Education programme. The Ghana School Feeding Programme, the Labour Intensive Public Works and the Productive Inclusion Programme.

Madam Cecilia Aidoo from the Public Relations Section of the Amasaman National Health Insurance Scheme Office gave a brief history on the NHIS and informed participants to report any undue charges to the Ga West NHIS Office with a receipt for appropriate sanctions to be taken against the facility and ensure that the facility refund their money. She further educated them on who the scheme is free for and who is to pay for registration and renewal.

Present at the community engagement meeting were representatives from the Gender Ministry and other stakeholders like the Department of Social Welfare, National Health Insurance, Ghana Education Service, and the Information Services Department. Civil Society Organizations were also present. The Community was also represented by Chiefs, religious leaders, beneficiaries of social intervention programs like LEAP, NHIS, Capitation Grant, and applicants who are waiting to be enrolled on the Programmes. Attendance was highly impressive with over 300 participants.

The communication on rights and responsibilities of beneficiaries of Kuntunse will increase, Social Intervention Programme beneficiaries will be empowered to demand accountability in the delivery of social protection programmes and knowledge on social protection program at Kuntunse will improve.

Source: ISD GWMA