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Government pays GHC19 million to 2.6 million Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) beneficiaries nationwide as part of its policy to reduce economic hardship of the poor and the vulnerable.

Mrs Cynthia Morrison, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection said this when she led officials of the Ministry to pay LEAP beneficiaries in 13 communities in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region.

She said the colossal amount was paid to orphans, widows, widowers, physically challenged persons and the aged of 65 years and above.

The beneficiaries received between GHC60.00 and GHC108.00 every two months to improve their living conditions.

Mrs Morrison said plans were underway to provide active LEAP beneficiaries with substantial amounts as soft loans to do business in order to wean them from the programme and the Ministry would undertake visits to communities to take accurate data of the beneficiaries of the LEAP to help to extend the policy to areas of some Members of Parliament.

According to the Minister, the policy, was introduced by former President John Agyekum Kufuor and under the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the programme invigorated to support the poor and the needy.