Social Protection and Citizenship in Ghana: A Case on Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (Leap) and National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the Chereponi District of the Northern Region

Abstract

Citizenship recognition and belongingness are vital to the establishment of social cooperation and maintaining a cohesive state-citizen relationship. There is no doubt that the establishment and sustainability of a cordial state-citizen relationship are required for the development of states. Over the years, several social protection interventions have been embarked on in Ghana but, with limited focus on poverty alleviation to the neglect of other equally important intangible benefits they might possess. This current study explored social protection and citizenship using LEAP and NHIS to ascertain the various ways by which they help establish a cordial state-citizen relationship and create inclusive spaces for the vulnerable to participate both at the state and local levels. The study adopted a purely qualitative approach with primary data collected through in-depth interviews. Respondents composed of thirty LEAP and NHIS beneficiaries, one social welfare officer and two focal persons in the Chereponi District. Findings revealed that beneficiaries’ participation came in three ways; social, economic, and political. The interventions also served as avenues for beneficiaries’ reintegration into community life without fear of stigmatization and intimidation. Also, cordial state-citizen relationship is established through various sensitization programmes organized for beneficiaries. The issuance of identification cards also served as a contractual agreement between the state and the vulnerable. Challenges such as delayed payment, lack of appropriate monitoring and engagement with beneficiaries by the social welfare department and focal persons due to lack of funds and logistics, and the difficulty in getting the appropriate means of transportation in accessing health care hindered the sustainability of social cooperation. Nonetheless, the provision of a cash grant and health packages to the vulnerable was found to be very much appreciated and desired, particularly their effectiveness towards the elimination of financial barriers to accessing healthcare services and the ability of beneficiaries to utilize the LEAP grant to undertake some economic ventures. Also, the enhancement of their participation in social activities was found to be very crucial in establishing and sustaining positive beneficiary-community relations, state-society relation and beneficiaries’ participation and involvement at the local level.