Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey has disclosed that Government has approved two Hundred and Sixty-Five Million, Two Hundred and Twenty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS265,220,000.00) Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Grant to be disbursed to Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand (350,000) beneficiary households in 260 metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies.
She further revealed that the LEAP grant which is an initiative under the Gender Ministry, and represents the 94th and 95th cycles [November to December, January to February] is scheduled to commence on the 24th of March 2025.
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Hon Agnrs Naa Momo Lartey addressing the media
Hon. Momo Lartey made these disclosure at a news conference in Accra on Friday (March 20, 2025).
“In line with the Government’s commitment to the poor and vulnerable, the Government has released Two Hundred and Sixty-Five Million, Two Hundred and Twenty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS265,220,000.00)”, She reiterated.
She explained that the the LEAP grant is paid bi-monthly, and households are not paid the same grant amount adding that Each household on the programme is paid according to the programme’s eligibility criteria.
“The households that are eligible for the programme must be extremely poor with a presence of vulnerability. By vulnerability, we mean households with Orphans and Vulnerable Children: The Aged/Elderly (65 years and above) without support; Persons with Severe disability who cannot easily work; and extremely poor pregnant women and lactating mothers with infants under 1 year”, the Minister explained.
According to her, the number of the above vulnerable persons in a household determines the amount a household receives bi-monthly.
She also revealed that, one eligible member household is entitled to five-hundred and twelve Ghana cedis (GHS 512.00) and that the two eligible member households are entitled to six hundred and eight Ghana Cedis (GHS 608.00). while three eligible member household will be paid seven hundred and four Ghana cedis (GHS 704.00).
“Finally, households with four or more eligible members will receive eight hundred and forty-eight Ghana cedis (GHS848.00)”, the Minister disclosed.
The MP for Krowor later commended the John Dramani Mahama’s administration for increasing the number of beneficiary from 350,000 to 400,000 stressing that this goes to confirm that the NDC government is a pro-poor government.
She also admonished the beneficiaries of the Program to leverage this support from government to enhance their overall well-being—both in meeting immediate consumption needs and securing their future investment goals.
“Beneficiaries are expected to prioritize essential areas such as household nutrition, children’s education, and income-generating activities. By adopting these positive financial and social practices, LEAP households will contribute to the programme’s objective of reducing poverty and vulnerability through sustained consumption support and human capital development. Ultimately, this will align with national and global efforts toward poverty reduction and sustainable development”, the Minister emphasized.
Coordinator of LEAP, Dr. Myles Ongoh explaining the modalities and eligibility criteria to the media.
She however stressed that the Ministry has initiated a comprehensive reassessment of all beneficiary households to evaluate their continued eligibility since not all households can remain on the LEAP Programme indefinitely.
The results of this reassessment will determine whether households will: remain on the programme; graduate from the programme; and households to be added”, she added.
The Minister later acknowledged and commended the Ministry’s partners including the World Bank, UNICEF, World Food Programme and Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office for their continuous support we appreciate your continuous support of the LEAP Programme
Source:senaradioonline.com
