LEAP Programme Expands with Onboarding of 400,000 New Households

Editor: Solomon Kwabena Nana-Ansah – Paaps

The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has officially launched a nationwide exercise to onboard 400,000 newly eligible households onto the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme, in a major boost to the country’s social protection system.

The expansion marks a significant milestone in strengthening support for vulnerable populations and improving the delivery of social assistance across the country.
Established in 2008, the LEAP Programme has grown from covering 1,654 households in 21 districts to approximately 350,000 households nationwide prior to the latest reassessment.

The initiative targets extremely poor households, including older persons without family support, orphans and vulnerable children, persons with severe disabilities, as well as pregnant women and nursing mothers.
The current onboarding exercise follows a comprehensive nationwide reassessment conducted using the Ghana National Household Registry (GNHR), aimed at enhancing targeting accuracy, transparency, and efficiency in beneficiary selection.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, described the exercise as a “clear statement of commitment, reform and hope,” highlighting government’s determination to build a more responsive and credible social protection system.

She noted that poverty remains dynamic, with households moving in and out of vulnerability due to factors such as economic shocks, illness, job losses, and climate-related challenges. Consequently, while many households have been retained, about 220,520 beneficiaries will exit the programme after meeting established graduation criteria or experiencing improved living conditions.

According to the Minister, the nationwide onboarding will commence on April 27, 2026, and will involve rigorous validation of beneficiary data, registration onto secure payment platforms, and verification processes to ensure system integrity.
“Payments to new beneficiaries will begin only after the enrolment process is fully completed to guarantee transparency and accountability,” she stated.

Dr. Lartey further emphasized that the LEAP Programme has played a vital role in enabling vulnerable households to meet basic needs, keep children in school, and access essential healthcare services. She added that the expansion represents not only an increase in numbers but also improved livelihoods, stronger families, and a more adaptive social protection system.

She also outlined government’s commitment to supporting households transitioning out of the programme through structured measures, including linkages to livelihood empowerment initiatives, financial literacy programmes, and community-based savings schemes such as Village Savings and Loan Associations, aimed at promoting long-term resilience and self-reliance.

The Minister called on implementing agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and payment service providers to execute the exercise with professionalism, integrity, and respect for beneficiaries. She also encouraged newly enrolled households to fully utilise the opportunities offered under the programme.
In her remarks, the Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr. Marian W. A. Kpakpah, described the initiative as a major step forward in Ghana’s social protection reforms, stressing the importance of maintaining an inclusive, adaptive, and responsive system.

Development partners, including the World Bank, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and civil society organisations, commended the government for the reforms under the LEAP Programme, particularly the nationwide reassessment and onboarding exercise, and reaffirmed their continued support.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to building a transparent, inclusive, and effective social protection system that ensures no vulnerable Ghanaian is left behind.