Asset Creation Program by World Food Program in Northern Ghana 15

About eight communities in the North Gonja district of the northern region have been engaged under the cash for asset creation program initiated by the world food program to improve the livelihood situation of the people in communities that are exposed to harsh climate weather conditions. The Cash for Asset creation programme is an initiative by the World Food Programme (WFP) to support government quest towards strengthening and improving the poverty situation in vulnerable communities through the reconstruction and building of communities assets. The Cash incentive project involves the use of manual equipment and labour intensive for the construction and rehabilitation of assets including dams to promote livelihood activities such as dry season gardening and other income-generating activities to address their food security and nutrition status. Currently 1,689 households are receiving payment for the agreed work milestone. Vera Boohene further explains cash for asset creation program. SOT 1: Vera Boohene, Communication officer, World Food Program (WFP) So far, over 17,000 households have been given cash incentives worth over 2 million cedis since the transition to cash payments last year. Madam Vera explains the rational behind the cash payment in beneficiary communities Some beneficiaries expressed their satisfaction about this intervention. SOT 3 (Akan): Banpana Mohammed, CAP Beneficiary "The work is profitable to us the women in the community since we have to travel far distance to access potable water for our homes. so we were told about the project and its benefits, we realized that there is the need we women to benefit. my job is to collect sand or stone that the men have dug from the dam. i come here in the morning and am paid every month for the work. i use the money to buy soap for the family and through that am engaged in petty trading so that i can feed the family." SOT 4 (dagbanli): Osman Abdulai, CAP Beneficiary "our community is faced with a lot challenges during the dry season. we hardly can get water for our animals as well as household use. so the project is supporting us to build our own dam so that we can get water. we are paid for the service with rice bag but now we are paid cash. my life has improve as a farmer since i have money before the start of the farming season." Madam Boohene said more vulnerable communities within the region will be support to enhance the livelihood of the people. From North Gonja, Noah Nash for Viasat one News