Poverty Reduction Programmes and Sustainable Livelihoods in the South Tongu District in Ghana

This study examined how poverty reduction programmes have affected sustainable livelihoods in the South Tongu District in Ghana. It focused on livelihood benefits derived by beneficiaries from three poverty reduction programmes and how they could be sustained. The study design was descriptive and exploratory. Based on qualitative approach, the study used purposive sampling procedure to select 44 respondents for interviews (28 people) and focus group discussions (16 people) between June and September 2014. Narratives and themes were used to analyse data. The study shows that the programmes created jobs, led to livelihood improvement and diversification, income growth, and poverty reduction. Regular monitoring of activities and capacity building were essential to sustain the benefits gained while inadequate human resources and logistics impeded the effectiveness of the programmes to support beneficiaries sufficiently. It was recommended that the programmes, with its inbuilt capacity building training, financial support and monitoring, should be intensified to consolidate the gains made.