The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has highlighted the passage of the Social Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1148), as a major step towards strengthening social protection systems in Ghana.
She said the Act provides a legal framework to support the implementation and coordination of social protection services, as the Ministry works to improve the welfare and well-being of vulnerable and socially excluded persons.
Presenting the Ministry’s performance at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, Dr Agnes Lartey outlined progress in social protection, gender equality, child protection and support for persons facing social and economic exclusion.
She said the Ministry’s work was anchored on five key areas: 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.
On the impact of the Ministry’s interventions, the Minister said 4.53 million children now benefit from hot, nutritious meals every day through the Ghana School Feeding Programme, up from 4.03 million in 2024.
She also disclosed that the average Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) grant had increased from GH¢360 in 2024 to GH¢569.14 in 2026, while the programme’s coverage ceiling had expanded from 350,000 to 450,000 households.
According to Dr Agnes Lartey, 11.24 million Ghanaians have been profiled in the National Household Registry, while seven out of every 10 citizen grievances received by the Ministry were being resolved.
She further reported that 19,760 persons with disabilities had benefited directly from the Disability Common Fund.
The Minister said the figures represented more than statistical achievements, noting that behind them were individuals and families whose lives were being affected by the Ministry’s interventions.
She stressed that social protection should be measured not only by the number of people reached but also by the difference the interventions make in their lives.
Dr Agnes Lartey said the Ministry would continue to strengthen social protection systems and ensure that its interventions respond effectively to the needs of children, women, persons with disabilities and other excluded groups.
