Gender Minister Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey Announces Major LEAP Grant Hikes and New Child Protection Funding Strategies

Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has announced a major expansion of the country’s social safety nets, including a significant hike in cash transfers to the nation’s most vulnerable citizens. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra, the Minister revealed that bi-monthly grants under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program have been increased to GH¢630 for households with multiple vulnerable members. This adjustment reflects a 70% increase in average grant amounts since last year, with the program now supporting approximately 450,000 households across the country.

The government’s social intervention strategy also includes a substantial scale-up of the Ghana School Feeding Programme, which now provides daily meals to 4.53 million children. Minister Lartey noted that increased budget allocations and higher per-meal grants have been implemented to ensure the program’s sustainability and nutritional quality. These advancements are supported by the newly passed Social Protection Act, 2025, which provides a robust legal framework for these initiatives and mandates rigorous compliance monitoring to protect the rights of children and the elderly. In addition to nutritional support, the Ministry has advanced various bills to strengthen gender equality and expand services for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.

To ensure the long-term viability of these programs, the Ministry is actively seeking sustainable revenue sources through a national dialogue themed "Beyond the Gaps: Financing Child Protection to Secure Every Child’s Future." Organized in collaboration with stakeholders like SOS Children’s Village and Joy News, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between policy commitments and actual investments. Dr. Lartey emphasized that the government is exploring ways to curb illicit financial activities to redirect funds toward social welfare. Stakeholders at the dialogue, including representatives from World Vision and the International Justice Mission, highlighted that while policy frameworks like the Child and Family Welfare Policy are in place, the decline in donor funding necessitates a multi-sectoral approach to domestic resource mobilization.

Minister Lartey recently reinforced this commitment to transparency during a field inspection of LEAP payment processes in the Adenta Municipality. During the visit, she engaged directly with beneficiaries to ensure that the revised payment structure is being implemented fairly and that funds are reaching those in genuine need. She urged beneficiaries to utilize the grants for essential household development and reminded officials that accountability is paramount in the administration of public welfare. As the government continues to refine its social interventions, these measures remain central to President John Mahama’s administration and its broader agenda for human capital development and poverty reduction.