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The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has hinted plans to include patients of fistula, hole in heart, stroke, tuberculosis and other sickness which they might not be able to recover from and actively work to sustain themselves as beneficiaries of Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme.

The sector Minister Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba has therefore encouraged fistula patients who have been rejected by their spouses and families to be hopeful as the ministry works out modalities to enroll them onto the programme

She revealed that the Gender Ministry plans to give fistula patients and LEAP beneficiaries skills training in soap making, batik and tye , kente weaving among others so that after they are equipped they can be weaned off the LEAP gradually to help people out of poverty.

“Poverty is dynamic because you can be wealthy today and tomorrow you can be poor” the Minister stated.

As part of her monitoring of disbursement of the 172 Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) beneficiaries in Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region, the minister visited fistula patients at Mankessim.

Madam Djaba said as part of the mandate of the Gender ministry, there is the need to monitor the cash transfer whenever her outfit is giving out to the beneficiaries observing that the cash transfer was the 48th cycle of payment since the LEAP policy was instituted.

Madam Djaba said the LEAP program which currently covered 213,000 households nationwide would be extended to 350,000 by end of this year.

She advised the beneficiaries to use their money for healthy food to enable them to be healthy instead of buying expensive clothes as well as buying bleaching creams.

Madam Djaba therefore expressed concern about some disclaimers using Facebook in the name of the Gender Ministry to defraud people by demanding GH¢ 400 through Mobile Money from the unsuspecting poor and vulnerable people in order to register for the LEAP program.

She said it is a fraudulent activity and sent a strong warning to public not to pay any money through mobile money to anyone.