The Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, says that the government has released GH¢265,220,000 to support 350,000 beneficiary households under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme for the 94th and 95th joint payment cycles.
The funds will be disbursed this week through the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlements System (GHIPSS) to the beneficiaries’ E-Zwich accounts across 260 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
LEAP, a cash transfer initiative introduced in 2008, aims to alleviate poverty among the most vulnerable households, helping them access essential services and opportunities.
Dr. Lartey highlighted the government’s commitment to poverty reduction, noting that the number of beneficiary households will increase from 350,000 to 400,000, as outlined in the 2025 budget statement. Additionally, the allocation for the LEAP Programme has risen from GH¢728.8 million to GH¢953.5 million for the 2025 financial year.
“The President, through the Minister for Finance, has demonstrated his dedication to supporting vulnerable communities by increasing the number of beneficiaries and the overall budget allocation for LEAP,” Dr. Lartey stated.
To qualify for the programme, households must include orphans and vulnerable children, seniors aged 65 and above without support, persons with severe disabilities unable to work, and extremely poor pregnant women or lactating mothers with infants under one year.
Depending on household size, beneficiaries receive, GH¢512.00 for one eligible member, GH¢608.00 for two-member households, GH¢704.00 for three-member households and GH¢848.00 for four-member households
Dr. Lartey urged beneficiaries to use the funds wisely to improve their living conditions, emphasizing spending on essential needs like nutrition, children’s education, and income-generating activities.
“By adopting positive financial and social practices, LEAP households will help achieve the programme’s goal of reducing poverty and vulnerability through sustained support,” she added.
Acknowledging the need for periodic reviews, Dr. Lartey noted that not all beneficiaries could remain on the programme indefinitely. Consequently, the ministry has initiated a comprehensive reassessment to evaluate the eligibility of current households.
The Ghana National Households Registry (GNHR) is also finalizing its household registration to ensure the effective targeting of new beneficiaries.
Dr. Lartey expressed gratitude to international partners like the World Bank, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) for their continued support.
“We are open to further partnerships to address coverage gaps and strengthen the impact of the LEAP Programme,” she said.
