School Feeding Now Covers 4.53 Million Children, LEAP Grant Up To GH¢569 – Gender Minister
The government has expanded the Ghana School Feeding Programme to 4.53 million children and increased the LEAP cash grant by more than 58 per cent as part of efforts to strengthen social protection for vulnerable groups.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, disclosed this when she presented the Ministry’s performance at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
She said the number of children benefiting from a hot, nutritious meal daily under the School Feeding Programme has risen from 4.03 million in 2024 to 4.53 million in 2026, while the average Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) grant has increased from GH¢360 to GH¢569.14 within the same period.
According to her, LEAP coverage has also been expanded from 350,000 to 450,000 households.
Dr Lartey said the Ministry’s work is anchored on five pillars – strengthening social protection; advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment; child protection and family strengthening; protecting vulnerable and excluded persons including persons with disabilities; and addressing violence, abuse and exploitation.
She disclosed that 11.24 million Ghanaians have been profiled in the National Household Registry, seven out of every ten citizen grievances received by the Ministry are being resolved, and 19,760 persons with disabilities have benefited directly from the Disability Common Fund.
The Minister cited the passage of the Social Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1148) as a major reform, providing a legal framework to support the implementation and coordination of social protection services.
She stressed that behind the statistics are individuals and families whose lives are being affected by the Ministry’s interventions, noting that social protection must be measured not only by numbers but by the difference it makes in people’s lives.
Dr Lartey assured that the Ministry will continue to strengthen social protection systems to respond effectively to the needs of children, women, persons with disabilities and other excluded groups.
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