The Bamuhene of Teacher Mante in the Ayensuano constituency of the Eastern region Nana Ogyedom Oheneaku Asamanin has expressed concerns about the mode of selection of the beneficiaries for the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty program (LEAP).
According to the Chief, the LEAP Program in the Ayensuano constituency particularly Teacher Mante community has been poorly targeted to suit unqualified individuals, saying it favours individuals with party affiliation hence rendering the vulnerable in abject poverty.
Speaking in an interview at the sidelines of a community durbar to donate cloths and cash amount to about 150 widows in the area, Nana Ogyedom Oheneako Asamanin said “I will praise the government for the LEAP program initiative but there is nothing of that nature to benefit deserving individuals at Ayensuano here”
“The little that came to Ayensuano constituency was dent with party affiliation, so if you do not belong to that government or party it means you won’t benefit”
“The program is wrongly targeted in Ayensuano because of the politics involve, abled and well to do individuals benefit from the LEAP at the expense of our widows and vulnerable people in the community”
“I want to appeal to the government and stakeholders to monitor how the LEAP program is being implemented in the various districts to ensure that the vulnerable in our communities benefit to help reduce abject poverty in Ghana” He added.
SOT: Nana Ogyedom Oheneako Asamanin…..
The Assembly Member for Teacher Mante electoral area Amaadi Antwi Edward revealed that 11 individuals in the area benefited from the program this year which is not near to the number of registered individuals.
The Assembly Member explained by saying “we received ours but majority of the beneficiaries are not widows or vulnerable, it was paid about two weeks ago”
“Most of the registered widows didn’t benefit and when we tried to find out we were informed that the selection is base on computerize system and so there nothing that can be done about it”
SOT: Amaadi Antwi Edward……… 2:36
Some of the widows present at the durbar was enthused with the gesture received from the Chief and further appealed to the government to extend the LEAP program to them lamenting that they have never received such support from the LEAP program.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Ansah
