Government is expanding the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme to cover up to 450,000 households, alongside increases in the grants paid to beneficiaries.
Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, said the expansion followed a nationwide reassessment of beneficiaries using data from the Ghana National Household Registry.
The exercise is intended to ensure that support reaches households that continue to meet the Programme’s vulnerability criteria.
Under the revised payment structure, households with one or two members will receive GH¢392 per bi-monthly cycle where there is a vulnerable member, and GH¢380 where there is none.
Households with three to four members will receive GH¢474 or GH¢452 respectively, while households with five or more members will receive GH¢630 or GH¢594.
Dr Lartey said the adjustment was necessary to make LEAP more responsive to the changing economic circumstances of beneficiary households.
She has previously explained that the Programme is undergoing reforms to improve targeting and ensure that assistance reaches those who need it most.
She said the first and second payment cycles for 2026 began on Monday, September 14, with the two cycles being paid together.
“The LEAP programme has secured funding,” Dr Lartey said during a monitoring exercise earlier this month, as she observed the ongoing disbursement of grants. Beneficiaries can contact the LEAP Management Secretariat on 0303 969 399 or use the toll-free lines 0800 800 800 and 0800 900 900.
Over 1.4m Ghanaians reached in nationwide child rights campaign
The Minister added that more than 1.1 million Ghanaians have been reached through a nationwide campaign aimed at raising awareness of child rights and strengthening protection for children.
According to her, 1,168,278 people had been reached through the child-rights awareness campaign, while 291 vulnerable children received care, counselling and education across five residential and sub-vented homes.
She said the Ministry was also advancing five major bills and policies through Cabinet this year, covering early childhood care and development, domestic violence, children’s rights and the administration of justice for children and young persons.
The Child Care Centre, according to the Minister, supported 16 children, six of whom have since graduated into stable, longer-term care arrangements. Dr Lartey said the combination of policy reforms and direct services was intended to strengthen families and provide safer environments for vulnerable children.
She said the Ministry would continue implementing child protection measures while preparing to submit the Persons with Disabilities Bill, Children’s Bill, Children and Young Persons (Justice Administration) Bill and Domestic Abuse Bill to Parliament at its next sitting.
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