The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme, will commence nationwide payment of social cash grants for the 77th and 78th cycles to beneficiary households.

It said 344,389 households, constituting over 1.5 million individuals, would be paid the LEAP social cash grant through E-zwich.

A statement signed by Dr Myles Ongoh, Head of LEAP Programme, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said given the joint payment of the 77th and 78th cycles, all beneficiary households would receive double the regular bi-monthly cash grant.

“One eligible member household will receive double GHS 64.00, two eligible members will receive double GHS 76.00, then three eligible members will receive double GHS 88.00. Finally, a household with four and more eligible members will receive double GHS 106,” it said.

The statement said the beneficiary households were not paid the same amount of money but was determined by the number of eligible members.

The category of persons, it said, which made a household eligible were orphan and vulnerable children (OVC), the elderly, 65 years and above without support, and persons with severe disabilities who cannot work.

The rests are very poor pregnant women and mothers with infants under one year.

“We acknowledge the contribution of our Development Partners and the staff of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development and all community volunteers towards the implementation of the Programme in all the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies,” it stated.

LEAP is a social cash transfer Programme for the poorest households in Ghana with the goal of reducing poverty by smoothening consumption and promoting human capital development.

The Programme is under the Gender Ministry.