The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has announced new measures to broaden the reach of Ghana’s flagship Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, underscoring government’s commitment to cushioning vulnerable families nationwide.
Speaking during a working visit to Obogu in the Asante Akim South Municipality, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, revealed that families affected by the recent fatal crash involving 16 children would be prioritized for inclusion in LEAP. Officials of the Ghana National Household Registry are already collecting data from some 600 households to identify those that qualify for support.
“This intervention is not just about extending condolences,” Dr. Lartey said. “It is about ensuring that households grappling with this tragedy do not slide deeper into poverty. Support is necessary to help them rebuild their lives.”
Beyond cash transfers, the Ministry has facilitated trauma counseling sessions for grieving families as part of a broader case management and recovery framework. Dr. Lartey emphasized that the expansion of LEAP would be guided by poverty-line assessments to guarantee that resources are targeted at those most in need.
The Minister also commended President John Dramani Mahama for recently signing the Social Protection Bill into law, describing it as a landmark step towards institutionalizing Ghana’s safety-net programmes. “The legislation provides the foundation for sustainable and coordinated interventions that prioritize the welfare of vulnerable populations,” she said.
She further disclosed that her Ministry was rolling out similar relief measures for victims of the Gbiniyiri land dispute in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District, where households have been displaced.
Observers say the move signals a gradual shift in government’s response to emergencies — from ad-hoc relief to structured, long-term social protection.
