MINISTER’S PRESS BRIEFING ON THE 94TH AND 95TH LEAP DISBURSEMENT

The Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has announced the commencement of the 94th and 95th joint cycles of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) cash grant disbursement, scheduled to begin on 25th March 2025. The announcement was made during a press conference held on Friday, 21st March 2025.

The Minister emphasized the President’s commitment to reducing poverty and vulnerability in Ghana. This commitment is reflected in the 2025 Budget Statement, which increased the number of LEAP beneficiary households from 350,000 to 400,000.

Additionally, the government has increased the LEAP budget allocation from GHS 728.8 million to GHS 953.5 million, ensuring broader support for vulnerable households in the country.

The Minister disclosed that the government has released GHS 265,220,000.00 to support 350,000 LEAP beneficiary households across 260 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) for the two cycles.

The payments, covering November–December 2024 (94th cycle) and January–February 2025 (95th cycle), will be disbursed via the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GHIPSS) to beneficiaries’ E-Zwich accounts.

Breakdown of Payments

Eligible households will receive the following joint payments for the two cycles:

One eligible member household: GHS 512.00

Two eligible member households: GHS 608.00

Three eligible member households: GHS 704.00

Four or more eligible member households: GHS 848.00

Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey reiterated that the LEAP Programme provides crucial financial assistance to extremely poor households with vulnerable members, including orphans and vulnerable children, persons with severe disabilities, elderly individuals aged 65 and above, and pregnant women or lactating mothers with infants under one year.

She encouraged beneficiaries to prioritize essential needs such as household nutrition, children’s education, and income generating activities, emphasizing that while LEAP provides immediate financial relief, it is also important for beneficiaries to work towards sustainable livelihoods.

The Minister further announced that the Ministry has commenced a comprehensive reassessment of beneficiary households to ensure continued eligibility and to make room for new vulnerable households. This effort is supported by the Ghana National Household Registry (GNHR), whose ongoing data collection will enhance the targeting of new beneficiaries.

Expressing gratitude to development partners including the World Bank, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Minister highlighted their continued support in strengthening Ghana’s social protection efforts.

She also urged the media to play a critical role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the disbursement process while raising awareness about the programme’s impact.

The Minister concluded by stating that she will visit selected payment points to monitor the disbursement process and gather firsthand information on how beneficiaries are receiving their grants.

Source: MoGCSP