Abstract
Abject poverty remains widespread in many parts of the world today despite the remarkable progress achieved since the Second World War. Though poverty levels in Ghana have declined in terms of hard-core poor, the decline in poverty has, however, not been geographically spread equally. Achieving poverty reduction goals in Ghana, the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Social Grants scheme was introduced as an effective long-term response to extreme poverty among vulnerable groups. This study assessed the influence of LEAP Cash Transfer on the economic outcomes of beneficiaries in the Builsa North District of Upper East Region, Ghana. The study employed a case study design. Data was collected from 156 randomly selected respondents using qualitative questionnaires, and focused group discussions. The study found that LEAP has played a pivotal role at strengthening the economic and social fortunes of majority of vulnerable households. It has enhanced households’ ability to participate in social functions, access education/literacy as human capital asset, and access vast agricultural lands to undertake crop farming activities. The study recommends to the implementing ministry, the Ministry of Gender and its subsidiary agencies at the District level to educated beneficiaries of the CCT to believe more in their individual efforts with little support such as the cash transfer. Keywords: Conditional Cash Transfer, Household Economic Outcome, LEAP, Builsa North, Livelihood framework DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-14-04 Publication date: July 31 st 2020
Highlights
Abject poverty remains widespread in many parts of the world today despite the remarkable progress achieved since the Second World War
The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) which was developed in 2010 by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP’s) annual flagship Human Development Reports, measure poverty by its incidence and intensity, and estimates that about 1.6 billion people in the world are living in multidimensional poverty (Alkire et al, 2014)
Conclusion small and predictable, Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) cash income has influenced household economic assets, as it has enhanced ability of beneficiaries to participate in social functions, access education/ literacy as human capital asset, and access vast agricultural lands to undertake crop farming activities
Summary
Under the LEAP, cash income is provided as a form of social assistance, which is increasingly becoming a major part of anti-poverty policy measures in most countries (DFID, 2011) In this regard, Ghana embraced cash transfer as an effective long-term response to extreme poverty eradication among vulnerable groups. LEAP is a program that aims at supplementing the incomes of dangerously poor households through the provision of cash transfers and linking them up with complementary services so that over time, they can leap out of poverty (Gbedemah, Jones & Pereznieto, 2010; National Social Protection Strategy, NSPS, 2007). The conceptual framework of the study in which the cash transfer program is the transforming structure plays an important role in improving the lives of rural poor and vulnerable people in the Builsa North District. Figure. 1 Conceptual framework Source: Adapted from DFID (1999) livelihood Guidance sheet
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