The Government has released a total of GH¢ 9,128, 856 million to support the poor and the vulnerable under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme. Mr Alexander John Ackon, Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said 72,780 households across the nation would benefit.

Beneficiaries would receive between GH¢ 24.00 to GH¢ 45.00. The payment, he said, would be done within a space of four days, adding that it would cover arrears for the last four months. Mr Ackon in a media briefing in Kumasi said persons with disability, orphans, the aged and the extremely poor would receive the money.

He said 8,324 beneficiary households in nine districts would be paid electronically, while that of the remaining 64, 456 would be done manually. The electronic payment, introduced last year, is being implemented on a pilot basis and is meant to reduce challenges associated with direct cash payment.

Mr Ackon said this was expected to be rolled out nationwide after the pilot phase and he re-affirmed the Government’s determination to sustain the programme to give some lifeline to the poorest of the poor.