Adaklu, Volta Region, January 2026
Story by:- Mercy Amewuho
Madam Susan Termley Akortia, the Adaklu District Director of Social Welfare, has urged the public to better appreciate the objectives and importance of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme, describing it as a key government intervention aimed at supporting vulnerable and less privileged households.
Speaking on the Hilz Morning Show on Hilz 91.7FM, Madam Akortia explained that the LEAP Programme is designed to support households whose socio-economic conditions limit their ability to access basic necessities such as education, healthcare, and other essential social services. She noted that children from such households are often deprived of these fundamental needs due to persistent economic challenges.
“The LEAP Programme is designed to cushion extremely poor households and help them meet basic needs such as education, healthcare and nutrition,” Madam Akortia stated.
Madam Akortia stated that although the LEAP Programme was introduced nationally in 2018, it has not undergone a comprehensive reassessment to determine whether some initial beneficiaries have improved their living conditions and should transition out of the programme. She emphasised the need for periodic evaluations to ensure the initiative continues to reach those who genuinely require support.
In the case of Adaklu District, she disclosed that the LEAP Programme began earlier in 2015 and currently covers 38 communities, benefiting more than 3,000 households.
She further highlighted ongoing efforts by government to conduct a nationwide review exercise using data from the Ghana National Household Registry (GNHR) to assess the effectiveness of the programme and improve beneficiary targeting. According to her, the review is crucial to promoting transparency, accountability, and the efficient delivery of social protection services.
“Using data from the Ghana National Household Registry will help us identify households that are truly vulnerable and deserving of support. The review process is critical to improving accountability and ensuring that public resources are used efficiently,” she said.
The LEAP Programme is a flagship social intervention under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. It provides regular cash transfers and health insurance benefits to extremely poor and vulnerable households, including orphans and vulnerable children, elderly persons aged 65 years and above without support, persons with severe disabilities, and poor pregnant women and mothers with infants.
The programme ultimately seeks to reduce extreme poverty, strengthen human capital development, and equip beneficiaries with the economic resilience needed to improve their living conditions.
