By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has announced the commencement of the 98th cycle of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) cash grant payments at a press briefing held at the Ministry’s conference room in Accra.
Addressing the media, Dr. Lartey said the 98th payment cycle reaffirms government’s commitment to reducing poverty and vulnerability among the most disadvantaged groups in society.
“Cycle after cycle, we have turned this commitment into concrete action. This unwavering consistency is the bedrock upon which we are building a Ghana where the most vulnerable are shielded from hardship and empowered to live with dignity and hope”; she said.
Dr. Lartey expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for his leadership and continued support for social protection initiatives. She highlighted that the President’s vision has ensured the sustainability of the LEAP programme and guided the passage of the Social Protection Bill into law—creating a strong legal framework to protect vulnerable citizens and institutionalize social protection as a pillar of national development.
The 98th payment cycle, which began on October 8, 2025, will directly benefit 350,580 households across the country, impacting the lives of over 1.5 million individuals.
Under the new payment structure:
Households with one eligible member will receive GH₵320.00
Households with two eligible members will receive GH₵380.00
Households with three eligible members will receive GH₵440.00
Households with four or more eligible members will receive GH₵530.00
The Minister disclosed that the Ministry has intensified efforts to build the human capital and productive capacity of LEAP beneficiaries.
According to her, the programme goes beyond cash transfers, as it now focuses on empowering households with the tools and knowledge to engage in productive and sustainable livelihoods.
“We are training and supporting households to move from subsistence to investment for long-term resilience and well-being,” she said.
To achieve this, a cadre of Master Trainers has been trained to support regional and district structures in providing continuous technical guidance and beneficiary sensitisation nationwide.
Dr. Lartey also noted that the Ministry has implemented an indexation mechanism—introduced in the 96th cycle—to protect the value of LEAP cash grants against inflation.
She added that reassessment of the LEAP programme is ongoing, with plans to increase the number of beneficiary households from 350,580 to 400,000 by the end of 2025, in line with President Mahama’s vision of expanding the social safety net.
The Minister further revealed that the Ministry is collaborating with the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) to roll out multiple cash-out options through the Ghana Pay mobile money system. This, she explained, will give beneficiaries greater flexibility in accessing funds while promoting financial inclusion.
She urged all beneficiaries to actively participate in the ongoing LEAP reassessment and data verification exercises, emphasizing that cooperation is key to ensuring fairness and the inclusion of deserving households.
She further cautioned against any form of malpractice, including underpayment or fraud, and encouraged the public to report such incidents through 0303969399 or the Ministry’s toll-free lines 0800800800 and 0800900900.
“Any malpractice undermines our mission. Together, we can protect the integrity and success of the LEAP Programme,” she stressed.
Dr. Lartey concluded the press briefing by reaffirming the government’s resolve to make social protection a cornerstone of national development.
“With the Social Protection Act now passed, and under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, we are building a stronger, more inclusive Ghana—one where no citizen is left behind,” she said.
