LEAP Shake-Up: Gov’t Begins Nationwide Beneficiary Audit, Payments Delayed

The government has launched a nationwide assessment of beneficiaries under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme as part of sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening its impact. Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, says the exercise is designed to remove ineligible beneficiaries and ensure that support reaches the most vulnerable households. Speaking to journalists in Parliament after appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Minister disclosed that the ongoing process will temporarily delay the disbursement of first-quarter payments by about two weeks. According to her, the assessment forms part of a broader plan to expand the programme from 350,000 to 400,000 households. “We are moving from 350,000 to 400,000 households, so there is a bit of enumeration ongoing in the field, followed by the uploading of beneficiaries onto the system to meet the target,” she explained. Dr. Lartey assured that the delay is not due to a lack of funds but rather the need to complete proper documentation and verification. “We are hoping that within the first two weeks we will be able to cover payments and then catch up with subsequent disbursements. It is not about the availability of funds, it is about the documentation,” she added. The nationwide exercise is expected to enhance transparency, improve targeting, and make the LEAP programme more efficient.