THE government has released GH¢150,162,434.00 to be disbursed to 350,580 ben­eficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme across the country.Marking the 97th payment cycle of the programme, the bi-monthly payment covers that of May and June this year, and it is ex­pected to benefit over 1,555,677 individuals.Briefing the media in Accra on Mon­day, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, noted that the payment included a 25 per cent top-up on the cash grant following the government's decision to index LEAP payments against inflation, a move first introduced during the 96th payment cycle.She stated that the criteria for eligibility were households with orphans and vulnera­ble children, the aged above 65 years without support, persons with severe disability who cannot easily work, and extremely poor pregnant women and lactating mothers with infants under one year.She highlighted that one eligible mem­ber household would receive GH¢384.00, two-member households would receive GH¢456.00, three-member households GH¢528.00, and four-member households would also get GH¢636.00."The Ministry commenced the implemen­tation of the indexation of the LEAP grant against inflation, resulting in a 25 per cent increase in the cash grant for each beneficia­ry household.

However, the top-up amount could not be paid to the beneficiary house­holds," she noted.The Minister underscored that LEAP goes beyond cash transfers. "This programme is not just about distribution of money," she said. "It is a symbol of our collective resolve to restore dignity, protect livelihoods, and offer real hope to the poorest and most vulnerable in our society."She added that the programme's impact was far-reaching, with beneficiaries reporting marked improvements in nutrition, access to healthcare, school enrolment, and overall household stability.These gains, she said, were signs that the programme was building the resilience need­ed for long-term poverty reduction.To strengthen implementation, Dr Lartey said the ministry continues to collaborate with the Ghana National Household Regis­try (GNHR) to update beneficiary data and ensure accurate targeting, especially in the wake of economic shocks, pandemics, and climate-related challenges.The Minister noted that efforts were un­derway to link LEAP beneficiaries to other essential services such as NHIS enrolment, education, and livelihoods interventions."Cash alone is not enough," she said, "and our integrated approach aims to build sustainable pathways out of poverty."She also assured the public of the Minis­try's commitment to timely and uninterrupt­ed payments.She urged beneficiaries to adhere to the programme's co-responsibilities and report any challenges through the Ministry's hotline, 0303969399, or via toll-free lines: 0800800800 and 0800900900.She expressed appreciation to the Min­istry's implementing partners, including development agencies, CSOs, and the LEAP Management Secretariat, for their continued support in executing the programme. BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA