Paycode Ghana Limited, the partnering Payment Service Provider supporting the ongoing Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) beneficiaries enrolment exercise in Northern Ghana, is deploying technology, trained field personnel and operational support to strengthen the registration of vulnerable households.
The initiative forms part of the Government of Ghana’s broader effort, through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, to expand the LEAP programme and ensure that eligible households are properly identified, verified and enrolled.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, recently visited the Savelugu Municipality and Kumbungu District as part of a working tour of the Northern and North East regions. She was accompanied by members of the Ministry’s Advisory Board and other officials.
Govt Targets 400,000 Additional Households
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is working to add 400,000 vulnerable households to the PAYCODE Ghana powered LEAP program nationwide.
During her visits, Dr. Lartey inspected registration centers to assess the efficiency of the process and identify challenges encountered by applicants and field officers.
She also evaluated how residents were being received and emphasized the need for vulnerable applicants to be treated with dignity and respect throughout the registration process.
Ministry Moves to Remove Ghost Beneficiaries
An important objective of the nationwide exercise is to reassess existing beneficiary records and improve the reliability of the LEAP database.
According to the ministry, updated household information will help identify and remove ghost beneficiaries while reducing errors that either admit ineligible people or exclude qualified households.
The reassessment will also determine whether some existing beneficiaries have achieved sufficient economic stability to leave the program. Their graduation would create space for other families facing severe financial hardship to receive assistance.
The ongoing exercise demonstrates how collaboration among government institutions, technology providers, local authorities and community leaders can improve the delivery of essential social Interventions.
Protection
Mr Kojo Adubofuor, a Director of Paycode Ghana, in his earlier remarks shared some security details with the LEAP beneficiaries, assuring them of its safety.
“After verifying the card in the system, the only thing they need is their thumbprint. But we advised that, for security reasons and extra protection, they must always have their card with them,” he explained.
Adding that, “In case they misplaced their card, the number issued to them will be the same consistent number as the new card.”
Reaffirming its commitment to working with the Ministry and all relevant stakeholders to complete the exercise successfully, he said “Paycode Ghana will ensure that no eligible household in its assigned operational areas is excluded because of distance, technology or logistical limitations.”
Traditional Leaders Pledge Community Support
As part of the monitoring tour, Dr. Lartey paid courtesy calls on the Chief of Savelugu, Yoonaa Abdulai Yakubu, and the Chief of Kumbungu, Gbullung Naa Musah Surani.
The engagements were intended to strengthen cooperation between the government, traditional authorities and local communities during the registration exercise.
Traditional leaders play an important role in mobilizing residents, promoting public understanding of social programs and helping authorities identify the needs of vulnerable households.
Minister Meets Local Government Officials
The ministerial delegation also held discussions with the Savelugu Municipal Chief Executive, Alhassan Fuseini, and the Kumbungu District Chief Executive, Imoro Yakubu Kakpagu.
The meetings focused on coordinating the registration process and ensuring that national implementation guidelines are applied effectively at the local level.
The ministry emphasized the importance of cooperation among district assemblies, social welfare officers, community leaders and registration teams in ensuring that the program reaches its intended beneficiaries.
Updated Data Expected to Improve Access to Services
Dr. Lartey said the initiative would deliver benefits beyond the immediate cash support provided through LEAP.
The alignment of beneficiaries’ biometric information is expected to simplify registration with the National Health Insurance Scheme. It could also improve school enrolment among children in rural communities and make it easier for households to access other social protection services.
Regular cash assistance may further stimulate economic activity in remote communities as beneficiaries spend money on food, healthcare, education and other essential needs.
Paycode Ghana says its participation goes beyond the provision of payment technology.
The company’s immediate responsibility includes supporting a reliable end-to-end beneficiary onboarding process and responding to technical and operational challenges encountered by field teams.
Through this partnership, Paycode is contributing to the development of a more inclusive, accountable and technology-enabled social protection system.
The objective is to ensure that eligible vulnerable households are properly enrolled and can ultimately receive government support securely and conveniently.
Source: Paycode Ghana/www.modernghana.com
