THE MINISTRY of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has officially commenced the 96th cycle of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) cash grant disbursement, offering crucial financial support to vulnerable households across Ghana.
Speaking at a press briefing on June 30, the Sector Minister, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, MP, announced that the disbursement will benefit 350,000 poor households across all 260 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
The LEAP Programme, a flagship social protection intervention, aims to alleviate poverty and promote human capital development by providing sustained financial support to the country’s most vulnerable populations.
Massive Funding Increase for LEAP in 2025 Budget
Highlighting the government’s commitment, the Minister revealed that the administration of President John Dramani Mahama has allocated GH₵953.5 million to LEAP in the 2025 national budget, a substantial jump from GH₵728.8 million in 2024.
For the current 96th cycle alone, the government has released GH₵139.26 million to be disbursed directly to beneficiary households nationwide.
LEAP Grants Increased to Cushion Beneficiaries
In response to the rising cost of living and inflationary pressures, the Ministry has adjusted the grant amounts upward as follows:
● One-member household: GH₵320 (up from GH₵256)
● Two-member household: GH₵380 (up from GH₵304)
● Three-member household: GH₵440 (up from GH₵352)
● Households with four or more members: GH₵530 (up from GH₵424)
“These increments are designed to cushion families against economic hardships while empowering them to improve their livelihoods,” Dr. Lartey explained.
400,000 Target Beneficiary Households Set
The Minister further disclosed that Cabinet has approved an expansion of the LEAP Programme, increasing the target from 350,000 to 400,000 households. An ongoing reassessment exercise will enable the Ministry to enroll more of Ghana’s most vulnerable families into the programme.
Minister Urges Beneficiaries to Invest Wisely
Dr. Naa Momo Lartey urged all LEAP beneficiaries to utilize the funds to prioritize household nutrition, children’s education and engage in income-generating ventures for long-term self-sufficiency.
She also called on the media and the general public to actively monitor the disbursement process to ensure transparency, accountability and fairness.
Acknowledgement of Partners
The Minister expressed profound gratitude to the Government of Ghana and international development partners for their unwavering support toward the success of LEAP.
Also present at the briefing were the Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, and the Director of the LEAP Programme, Mr. Myles Ongoh, who both reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to poverty reduction.
Who Qualifies for LEAP?
The LEAP Programme targets extremely poor households with vulnerable members, including:
● Orphans and vulnerable children
● Elderly persons aged 65 and above with no support
● Persons with severe disabilities without productive capacity
●Extremely poor pregnant women or lactating mothers with infants under one year
The Ministry urged qualified individuals to take advantage of the ongoing reassessment to benefit from future disbursements.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
