Closing gap, opening doors: Assessing (Leap) as a social protection for persons with disabilities in Bosomtwe District Assembly, Ghana

This study focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Bosomtwe District Assembly of Ghana. LEAP aims to alleviate poverty and improve living conditions for vulnerable populations through cash transfers. However, the program's impact on PWDs in rural settings remains understudied. The main questions of the study are: How do PWD beneficiaries perceive the LEAP program in meeting their needs? What is the impact of LEAP enrollment on key well-being indicators for PWD beneficiaries, including food security, healthcare access, education access, and housing quality? What challenges do PWD beneficiaries face in accessing LEAP benefits? The study employed a qualitative case study approach, conducting in-depth interviews with 10 PWD beneficiaries and 5 non-beneficiaries across various disability types. The main findings of the study are Beneficiaries reported both positive and negative perceptions. Positive impacts included improvements in basic living conditions and enhanced personal and social well-being. Negative perceptions centered on the inadequacy of support and implementation challenges, particularly inconsistent and delayed payments. The study evaluated LEAP's impact on food security, healthcare access, education access, and housing quality. While some improvements in food security were noted, persistent challenges remained in accessing healthcare services and significantly enhancing housing conditions. The program's impact on educational access was mixed, with some beneficiaries able to support basic educational needs but struggling with higher education costs. Challenges faced by PWD beneficiaries in accessing LEAP benefits included payment inadequacies, access barriers, and social challenges. Inconsistent and insufficient payments hindered the program's effectiveness. Transportation issues and physical accessibility barriers presented significant obstacles for some beneficiaries. Social challenges, including misconceptions about the program and stigma associated with receiving benefits, affected beneficiaries' social relationships and well-being. The study concludes that while LEAP shows promise in improving some aspects of beneficiaries' lives, significant enhancements are needed to address its shortcomings. Recommendations include restructuring LEAP Payment system based on household dependencies, comprehensive vocational training programs and the enhancement of sustainable poverty reduction mechanisms. The research underscores the need for a more holistic, rights-based approach to social protection that considers the diverse needs and experiences of PWDs. This study contributes to the limited body of knowledge on the effectiveness of social protection programs for PWDs in rural settings, offering valuable insights for policymakers and program implementers to enhance the design and delivery of such initiatives in Ghana and similar contexts.