The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (Leap) Programme and the Lives of Persons with Disability in the Effutu Municipality

Abstract

Countries around the globe have used social protection policies as part of the responses to the issue of poverty. In Ghana, the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme was introduced in 2008 with the aim of providing a safety net for the poorest and most marginalized groups. One category of the groups to benefit from the programme is persons with disabilities. This study examined the influence of LEAP on household food consumptions, access to health services, and children’s school attendance of persons with disabilities in the Effutu Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. The study adopted the qualitative research approach and phenomenology research design. In all, thirty-four persons were purposively and conveniently engaged in the study. The semi-structured interview guide was used to gather data from the responded for the study. It emerged from the study that, the LEAP programme show positive influence on household food consumptions, access to healthcare, and children school attendance among PWD beneficiaries in the Effutu Municipality. It is therefore important that the programme receives regular review to ensure it achieves its targets or goals.