Send Ghana has called on government to pay Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) arrears to beneficiaries for the 71^st cycle which was due in March.

According to Send Ghana, the delay in payment will affect the consumption pattern of beneficiaries and impact negatively on their livelihoods already exacerbated by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

In a press statement signed by the Country Director, George Osei-Bimpeh, he said poor and vulnerable people who rely on the LEAP cash transfers have not been prioritised by government amidst the ongoing pandemic.

He said the imposition of new taxes resulting in an increase in the cost of living amidst an economic meltdown has only worsened the plight of Ghanaians who depend on the LEAP cash transfers.

This, he said, has denied beneficiaries their fundamental right to social protection and decent living.

“A survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) on the impact of COVID-19 on the social and economic lives of Ghanaians, for example, revealed that approximately 22 million Ghanaians are affected by reduced household income; 77% of households reported to be severely affected by an increase in prices of food, and more than half (52%) of households have experienced reduced food consumption,“ he added.

He further called on the government to shift from an observed trend of delaying cash transfers and combining two-cycle payments as against the established practice of paying bi-monthly.

“In light of this, we hope that the 72nd payment cycle, which is due in the third week of this month (May) will not be missed,” the statement concluded.