News
Gender Minister assesses leap cash grand payment
The Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has undertaken a monitoring visit to payment centers in the Greater Accra Region to observe the ongoing disbursement of cash grants under the 96th cycle of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme.
Her visit underscores the Ministry’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and the effective delivery of social protection interventions.
A total of 269 beneficiaries from communities such as Gbawe, Mandela, New Weija, Tetegu, Weija Leprosarium, Weija, and Wiaboman converged at the Weija Leprosarium to access their LEAP cash grants.
This monitoring exercise aligns with the Minister’s pledge to oversee the nationwide disbursement of the 96th LEAP payment cycle.
During her visit, she interacted with both beneficiaries and payment agents to assess the efficiency of the process and address any emerging challenges.
Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey announced that the Government, through the Ministry, has commenced the indexation of the LEAP cash grant against inflation—a policy reform aimed at preserving the real value of the grant and cushioning poor households against economic shocks.
The revised LEAP grant amounts are as follows:
One-member household: increased from GH₵256 to GH₵320.00
Two-member household: increased from GH₵304 to GH₵380.00
Three-member household: increased from GH₵352 to GH₵440.00
Four or more-member household: increased from GH₵424 to GH₵530.00
Addressing the media, the Minister reiterated that the LEAP Programme provides vital financial support to extremely poor households with vulnerable individuals—including orphans and vulnerable children, persons with severe disabilities, elderly individuals aged 65 and above, as well as pregnant women and nursing mothers with infants under one year.
She emphasized that the Government of H.E. John Dramani Mahama is determined to reduce the cost of living by making the right and appropriate decisions to stimulate economic growth and development for all.
“The Government is taking measures to enhance the real value of the LEAP cash grant and its impact on key development indicators such as nutrition, health, schooling, productive investment, and social inclusion,” she stated.
The Minister encouraged beneficiaries to prioritize critical needs such as household nutrition, children’s education, and income-generating activities. While LEAP offers short-term financial relief, she urged them to also work toward long-term financial stability.
Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to strengthening social protection interventions, the Minister highlighted the ongoing efforts to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable households across the country.
The LEAP Programme, a flagship initiative under the Ministry, provides bi-monthly cash grants to extremely poor households to support their essential needs. The ongoing 96th payment cycle aims to reach thousands of beneficiaries nationwide.
The Minister’s monitoring visit forms part of a nationwide exercise to ensure all eligible beneficiaries receive their cash grants in a timely and efficient manner.
A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Bekwai Circuit Court for his role in a 2022 robbery at a mining site at Manso Akwasiso in the Ashanti South Region.
The convict, Dominic Ofori, also known as Fanta, was arrested on 16th February 2026 after years on the run. He pleaded guilty before the Bekwai Circuit Court to robbery contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 Act 29, and was accordingly sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour.
On March 20, 2022, the Manso Adubia District Police received intelligence that a group of armed men from Manso Abodom were planning to attack a mining site at Manso Akwasiso to rob the owner of gold concentrate. Acting on the information, police mounted a coordinated operation and laid an ambush at the site.
At about 5:30 pm the same day, four-armed men arrived at the site, fired indiscriminately, and robbed the miners of their gold concentrate. The police team on surveillance intervened, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Three of the suspects, Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif, and Gideon Takyi, sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at St Martins Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum. Dominic Ofori escaped at the time but was later arrested and put before the court.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has assured the public of its continued commitment to combating violent crimes and bringing offenders to justice.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested 45-year-old Isaac Boafo, also known as “Duabo King,” for allegedly publishing false news intended to cause fear and panic.
Police said the arrest follows a viral TikTok video in which Boafo claimed that four officers at the Central Police Station in Kumasi engaged in inappropriate conduct with commercial sex workers during night patrols in Asafo.
Officers from the Police Intelligence Directorate (Ashanti Region) apprehended Boafo after receiving intelligence about the video.
During questioning, he admitted to creating the video to attract views and engagement online, and acknowledged that he could not prove the allegations.
Boafo also admitted making comments about the President of the Republic for content purposes and could not defend those statements.
He has been formally charged and is in detention as investigations continue.
The Ashanti Regional Police have warned the public against publishing or sharing false information on social media, noting that such acts can cause fear, panic, and damage reputations.
They said anyone found engaging in similar conduct will face legal action.
By: Jacob Aggrey
