The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ahafo Ano South West, Abubakar Sedik, has urged beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme to invest bi-monthly grants in petty trading and small businesses to achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Speaking at a LEAP payment ceremony held at Barniekrom, Sedik emphasised that the financial support provided under the programme was intended to empower vulnerable households to build sustainable livelihoods and support their dependents.

The event was organised by the Social Welfare and Community Development department of the district assembly, in collaboration with Ahafo Ano Premier Rural Bank PLC.

Sedik advised beneficiaries to make strategic use of the grants by starting income-generating activities, describing such investments as a “significant step towards economic independence and improved living standards”.

He said the LEAP grant was not just financial support but a seed for economic transformation, adding that when they invest in small businesses, they were not only improving their own lives but also contributing to the growth of the local economy.

Sedik further stated that the success of the LEAP programme in current beneficiary communities could lead to its expansion to other areas within the district.

In line with this, he said the Ghana National Household Registry was currently undertaking registration exercises to identify new eligible households for inclusion in the programme.

He reaffirmed the assembly’s commitment to supporting vulnerable groups through initiatives aimed at poverty reduction and local development.