Does the Ghanaian livelihood empowerment against poverty programme lead to an increase in household productive livelihood assets? Analysing the Ashanti scenario

Abstract

This study draws evidence from 180 respondents who were beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme with the underpinning objective of whether the LEAP beneficiaries are able to acquire other productive livelihood assets. Descriptive research involving both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. The study used questionnaires and focus group discussions to obtain data from the respondents. Data were analysed using the descriptive statistics from the SPSS version 17.0 and presented by tables and percentage counts. The study found that the LEAP beneficiaries do not have other preferable productive livelihood assets needed to expand their livelihood options, largely due to the low amount paid coupled with irregularity of payment. The paper therefore recommends that there should be empowerment of beneficiaries with productive capacities through the incorporation of skills and capability development into the programme. This will enhance beneficiary households to initiate new or strengthen old livelihood sources to ensure livelihood sustainability. Moreover, enrolling the LEAP beneficiaries’ caregivers who are not working in a skilled training programme that exists in communities to equip them with livelihood skills which can be used for livelihood activities, such as, baking and soap making will reduce beneficiaries’ dependence on the LEAP cash.

Keywords:

• livelihood asset
• LEAP
• social protection
• livelihood source

Public Interest Statement

Many people in Ghana continue to battle with issues of poverty. It is envisaged that through social protection programmes via cash transfers may economically empower the poor with productive livelihood assets, to enable them move out of extreme poverty. In spite of its long standing implementation in Ghana, limited research has been conducted to assess the impact of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme on the acquisition of productive livelihood assets for the beneficiaries. Using interviewer-administered questionnaire and focus group discussion, this study tries to ascertain the performance of the LEAP on livelihood asset acquisition for poverty reduction. The study shows that the LEAP is unable to enhance productive livelihood assets acquisition, largely due to the low amount paid coupled with irregularity of payments. The findings call for a critical evaluation of the LEAP programme to target the asset-based of beneficiaries which is key in poverty reduction.

Additional information

Funding

Funding. The authors received no direct funding for this research.

Notes on contributors

Prince Peprah

Prince Peprah holds a BA in Geography and Rural Development and currently a Teaching and Research Assistant at the Department of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. His research interests include poverty reduction studies, livelihoods security and sustainability, sustainable development, waste management and climate variability/change impacts and rural people’s livelihoods and coping/adaptive strategies.

The authors of this paper form a team of upward researchers who jointly articulate the LEAP effects on livelihood assets in Ghana. In this paper, the authors present how the LEAP has affected beneficiaries livelihood assets coupled with alternative livelihood source(s) in Ghana.