UNICEF: Linking Ghana's LEAP and PII programs could cut poverty

UNICEF has stated that coordinating Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) cash transfer scheme with the Productive Inclusion Initiative (PII) could reduce extreme poverty by 2.5 percentage points by 2030. The agency noted that this potential reduction is supported by data rather than mere projection.

The recommendation was made during the launch of Ghana’s Social Protection Act, 2025, and its accompanying regulations in Accra. UNICEF argued that while LEAP addresses immediate income needs through direct cash, the PII focuses on long-term livelihoods and skills. Combining the two could help vulnerable households manage interconnected challenges such as healthcare, nutrition, childcare, and employment that cash alone may not resolve.

During the event, Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang called on stakeholders to close gaps that prevent assistance from reaching intended beneficiaries. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, led by Sector Minister Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has committed to prioritizing the effective implementation and monitoring of these frameworks.