Social protection policies in Ghana: the impact of Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty on beneficiaries

Boateng, Priscilla (2023) Social protection policies in Ghana: the impact of Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty on beneficiaries. Doctoral thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

The Department of Social Welfare implements the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) as a centerpiece initiative of the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) to combat poverty in Ghana's most vulnerable populations, including orphans, vulnerable children, and people with disabilities. To guarantee that LEAP achieves its intended benefits, this study attempts to highlight the viewpoints of the program's recipients. The LEAP program includes a health component that automatically enrolls beneficiaries in the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). This study also aims to shed light on how LEAP has affected beneficiaries' and households' educational levels as well as how the National Health Insurance Scheme has impacted LEAP beneficiaries. Data for this study were gathered through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with 40 LEAP beneficiaries from Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions, who included both males and females, as well as people with disabilities. Findings suggest that LEAP has had a mixed impact on the beneficiaries. This study finds that there is less of an impact on school enrollment and participation, as well as mixed impact of NHIS on LEAP beneficiaries. However, the program has a positive impact on the livelihoods of its beneficiaries by increasing investment in small-scale businesses and income-generating activities, reducing their dependence on family and community for sustenance. These findings point to the need for a review and increase in the funds distributed to beneficiaries each month, as well as for the government to support programs aimed at increasing the human capabilities of the country's poor and vulnerable. They also highlight the need for the health ministry to revise and expand the bills that NHIS can cover during hospital visits for beneficiaries.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Publisher’s Statement:	© Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords:	Cash Transfer; Department of Social Welfare; Ghana; Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty; National Health Insurance Scheme; Social protection
Subjects:	J Political Science > JF Political institutions (General)
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Student
Department/Unit:	Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations College of Social and Behavioral Science > Politics and International Affairs
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2023 16:47
Last Modified:	03 Aug 2023 16:47
URI:	https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/6088

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