Government will from 2014, support the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme with Ghc38 million to cover 150,000 household.

The support is also aimed at improving the programme, using a more efficient data collection, as well as expansion in the coverage of the programme.

Seth Terkper, Minister of Finance said this will ensure that the impact already achieved are deepened and have a lasting effect on lives of a greater number of beneficiaries.

Mr Terkper was speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop for Regional Budget officers and Regional and District information officers for the dissemination of the 2014 Budget statement and Economic Policy in Accra on Friday.

He said government in the 2014 Budget has provided Ghc5 million to take care of the Osu, Kumasi and Tamale and two sub-vented orphanages at Mampong and Jirapa.

“Part of the funds will be used among others, to rehabilitate the very rundown and overcrowded facilities,” he added.

The Finance Minister gave the assurance that government will continue with the social intervention programmes to improve the living conditions of the citizens.

Mr Terkper called on the Regional budget officers and the information officers to give feedback to government on the 2014 budget statement, to better improve on the economy.

Patrick Nimoo, Director of Budget, Ministry of Finance said the 2.5 per cent Value Added Tax would be used to invest in the infrastructure fund.

He said to address limited access to financing and boost the activities of the Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SME) government would set up a new SME fund to support their operations.