Between 2017 and 2022, the country spent about GH15.8 million on payments to unqualified people, including the deceased, and overspending under the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) Programme.
This was stated in an audit report on LEAP management issued by the Auditor-General’s Department and forwarded to Parliament.
Out of the figure, GH¢396,620.00 was paid to 170 beneficiaries under the scheme whose socio-economic status had improved and who no longer qualified for the grant and an amount of GH¢84,480 was paid to representatives of some 44 deceased beneficiaries.
The report blamed inadequate record-keeping practises by the LEAP Management Secretariat (LMS) as a cause of the leaks in the disbursement of funds, which have cost the country about GH¢15,369,309.97 and risked the sustainability of the programme.
It was recommended by the audit report that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGSCP) improve its records-keeping regime to increase accountability.
Consequently, the report recommended an immediate enhancement of record-keeping practises by the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP) to strengthen accountability measures.
It advised that moving forward, “all accountants on the LEAP programme maintain records and report on a quarterly basis to the Chief Director on all financial information related to cash grants and administrative costs relevant to the programme.”
Moreover, it asked the LEAP secretariat to reconsider and review its decision to rely solely on the Ghana National Housing Register (GNHR) to identify beneficiaries while conducting a reassessment to exit ineligibles.
“The LMS should adhere to the LEAP Fund utilisation guidelines during programme implementation to promote sustainability,” the Auditor-General urged.
LEAP, a government-run social protection initiative, was launched in 2008 and is currently in its 15th year.
The programme focuses on supporting disadvantaged segments of the population, including orphans and vulnerable children, nursing mothers, elderly individuals, and those with significant disabilities.
It offers bimonthly cash grants to qualified households in numerous districts throughout the country.
By the end of December 2020, the programme had successfully enrolled 335,015 extremely impoverished households in 259 districts.