Socio-Cultural Impact and Sustainability of Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (Leap) in Ghana: The Case of Navrongo, Kasena-Nankana East Municipality of Upper East Region

Abstract

This study explores the socio-cultural impact and sustainability of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme in Navrongo. LEAP was introduced in Ghana in 2007/8 as a public social protection policy to provide basic and secure incomes, aimed at salvaging and protecting the poor and vulnerable in society against global and local livelihood shocks due to declining resources, the negative impact of economic policies and the gradual erosion of socio-cultural support systems. Earlier interventions had minimal impact owing to less immersion of culture as key to innovative development thinking. Four (4) communities, 200 beneficiaries and 17 officials were purposively selected to participate. Pragmatism is the main philosophical anchorage of the study which employed mixed methods; utilizing exploratory-descriptive case studies and surveys including sequential triangulation and convergent designs. Descriptive quantitative data from structured questionnaires were analysed using the IBN - SPSS software programme. Data from interviews, focus group discussions, observation and content materials were analysed thematically and qualitatively. Drawing from functionalism and conservative-liberal continuum theories, the study found Upper East and Upper West Regions as the first pilot household registries; widows and orphaned children were the poorest found in households of six and seven members; culture impacted positively on beneficiaries‟ lifestyles as it ensured peace, social inclusion, and financial satisfaction. However, the cost of maintaining funerals was seen as a negative cultural issue. Many respondents depended heavily on inadequate LEAP benefits, while some relied on farming and rearing animals as a means of generating additional income. The study recommends among others that government should increase the benefits and identify beneficiaries with capabilities and settle them independently.