SEND Ghana is asking the government to make clear, its intention to double LEAP grants from GH₵45.00 to GH₵90.00.
In a press release issued on Thursday, 1st December 2022, the organisation commended government’s promise, stating that the 100 percent increment would “mitigate the rising cost of living among beneficiary households.”
However, they raised the issue that the ‘visionary’ development plan captured in the budget statement was ambiguous.
Therefore, in their request for transparency and accountability from the government, SEND Ghana requested that government should “explain the amount stated in the budget and indicate the specific amount to be paid to the category of beneficiaries.”
SEND Ghana also pointed out that they found the intention to double LEAP grant “problematic,” the reason being that the number of eligible members of a household determines the amount received.
The organisation further pointed out an inconsistency in the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta’s presentation, and disclosed that the current amount received by a single-member beneficiary was GH₵64.00 and not GH₵45.00.
For the aforementioned reasons, coupled with SEND Ghana’s wish to know when the said promise will take effect, the NGO has asked the government to shed more light on their intentions.
SEND Ghana, a subsidiary of SENF Foundation of West Africa, announced their assessment and analysis of the 2023 National Budget Statement and Economic Policy on Thursday, 1st December, 2022.
The assessment was based on a 5 year trend analysis spanning 2019 to 2023, and covered five ministries; Health, Agriculture, Sanitation and Water Resources, Education as well as Gender, Children and Social Protection.
Source: Myjoyonline