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🇬🇭 Ghana /Economy & Trade

LEAP targets 400,000 more vulnerable households

From Ghanaian Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Ghana's government plans to enroll 400,000 additional vulnerable households into the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program.
  • This expansion follows a reassessment showing over 70% of existing beneficiaries have improved their incomes, allowing many to exit the scheme.
  • The Ministry of Finance has allocated GH¢1.1 billion to sustain the program, with beneficiaries receiving cash transfers every two months.

Ghana is expanding its social protection coverage by enrolling an additional 400,000 vulnerable households into the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program. This initiative aims to bolster social safety nets across the nation.

The expansion is made possible by a recent reassessment of current LEAP beneficiaries. The review revealed that over 70 percent of households have successfully improved their incomes and livelihoods, leading to an estimated 220,000 to 350,000 households exiting the cash transfer scheme. This successful exit of self-sufficient households has created both financial and structural capacity for new enrollments.

The exit of self-sufficient households had created both fiscal and structural space for the enrolment of newly identified vulnerable households.

— Dr Agnes Naa Momo LarteyThe Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection explaining the rationale behind the expansion of the LEAP program.

Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, announced the expansion during a three-day working visit to beneficiary communities in the Northern and North East Regions. She confirmed that the Ministry of Finance has allocated GH¢1.1 billion to ensure the program's sustainability and effectiveness. Beneficiary households will receive cash transfers every two months, with amounts ranging from GH¢320 to GH¢530, depending on the number of dependents.

In addition to cash transfers, the LEAP Secretariat will offer complementary support, including financial literacy training, micro-savings initiatives, and community livelihood programs. These measures are designed to strengthen the economic resilience of beneficiaries. Dr. Lartey emphasized that the reassessment and onboarding process are crucial for improving targeting, minimizing errors, and making the system more responsive to the needs of vulnerable groups. She described the ongoing "Big LEAP" exercise as a testament to the government's commitment to fostering an inclusive society where all citizens can live with dignity, irrespective of their socio-economic status or location.

The visit underscored the government’s commitment to transparency and improved service delivery.

— Mr Abdulai Imoro GongThe Municipal Chief Executive for Sagnarigu commenting on the minister's visit and its implications.
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Originally published by Ghanaian Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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