The Auditor General’s report has uncovered significant mismanagement within the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Management Secretariat, revealing that cash grants amounting to GH¢84,480 were disbursed to 44 deceased beneficiaries.
Additionally, GH¢396,620 was paid to individuals who were no longer eligible for the programme.
LEAP, a government-implemented social protection initiative, aims to provide cash grants to extremely impoverished and vulnerable households to alleviate economic and social hardships.
This information was conveyed in a transmittal letter to the Speaker of Parliament on August 8, 2023, by the Auditor General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu.
“We found that LMS paid cash grants to caregivers of deceased beneficiaries in one-member households, resulting in payments to 44 deceased beneficiaries amounting to GH¢84,480,” Asiedu stated.
“We also noted that LMS did not conduct reassessments of LEAP as required. Despite identifying positive impacts of the programme, LMS failed to graduate or exit beneficiaries even when their socioeconomic status had improved. This led to payments of GH¢396,620 to beneficiaries who no longer qualify to be on the programme.”
The audit, conducted from February to October 2022, covered the period from 2017 to 2022 and included LMS and five districts across three regions.
It highlighted that LMS did not comply with fund utilization guidelines, leading to an overspend of GH¢15,369,309.97, which threatens the programme’s sustainability. Furthermore, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MOGCSP) failed to maintain appropriate records on the funds expended.
The Auditor General suggested that MOGCSP should enhance its record-keeping practices to improve accountability and ensure the programme’s long-term viability.
