Minister visits LEAP payment centres

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, yesterday visited several payment centres across the Greater Accra Region to monitor the ongoing disbursement of funds for the 96th cycle of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme.

The monitoring exercise forms part of the government’s commitment to ensure a smooth and transparent process in the distribution of cash grants to the country’s most vulnerable populations.

Dr Momo Lartey interacted with beneficiary households, LEAP payment agents and local authorities about the exercise.

At the disbursement centres, officials educated beneficiaries about the recent increase in the cash grant and the broader benefits of the LEAP programme. 

Beneficiaries were informed about how the enhanced grant was intended to improve household nutrition, healthcare access, educational support for children and opportunities for small-scale income-generating activities.

Accompanying the minister were the Head of the LEAP Management Secretariat, Dr Myles Ongoh, and the Director of the Social Protection Directorate, Francisca Abena Atuluk.

Dr Momo Lartey expressed confidence that with each disbursement, trust in the LEAP programme would increase.

“We are here to see for ourselves how the payment process is progressing, address any concerns and assure beneficiaries of the government’s continuous commitment to social protection,” she said.

The minister encouraged beneficiaries to use the funds prudently and to adopt a savings culture that supported their long-term well-being.

She said the visit was to confirm that each community was receiving its due, and that the payment processes were fair, transparent and impactful.

She acknowledged a concern raised by the beneficiaries, and said: “We’ve taken note of that concern and are working on how best to respond to it”.

Commitment

Dr Momo Lartey assured beneficiaries that the government remained committed to expanding coverage and improving delivery efficiency across the country, especially in underserved communities.

“This is not just a payment. It is a promise; a promise that every Ghanaian, regardless of where they come from or what they believe, has a place in our national development,” she said.

The minister further expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister of Finance for their commitment to ensuring the timely release of funds to sustain the programme.

She announced that preparations were underway for the 97th disbursement cycle, expected to be rolled out soon.

Expanding

Total beneficiary households in Greater Accra are 9,278, with a total house number count of 33,663.

Weija Gbawe Municipality has seven communities, 89 households and 269 beneficiaries. 

Dr Ongoh explained that while not every community in the country would host a payment point, the programme ensured national coverage through strategic district-based outreach.

He highlighted the ongoing national reassessment exercise aimed at evaluating the current economic status of LEAP beneficiaries.