Mr. Ofori-Atta says the vulnerable in society will continue to be protected. He said coverage of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty LEAP will be expanded to cover all two-point-five million extremely poor persons by next year.
”Recall that the 2023 Budget already made specific provisions for; ”doubling the LEAP payment per beneficiary household from GH¢45 per month to GH¢90 with progressive increase in the number of beneficiary households from the current 344,185 households.”
”Coverage will be expanded to all 2.5 million extremely poor individuals by 2024.”
He also disclosed that the government plans to introduce a mechanism that will guarantee the value of LEAP overtime.
We plan that by the end of September 2023, an indexation mechanism will be introduced in the LEAP Programme to prevent erosion of value over time.”
The Finance Minister, who was giving an update on the economy and the IMF intervention, also spoke on the budgetary allocation for the School Feeding Programme to compensate for the higher cost of meals and also ”to ensure a more efficient management of the programme”.
Also, there would be a review of the package of benefits and tariff structure for the NHIS Scheme.
”….increasing the Capitation Grant over time as part of measures to improve foundational learning; anensuring prompt payment of the NHIS from the Consolidated Fund,” according to Mr. Ken Ofori Atta.
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