He revealed that among the beneficiaries are 1,438 alleged witches and 278 cured lepers.

Mr. Ofori-Atta also assured that the final cycle of payments would be made by the end of December 2023.

“The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection paid five cycles of Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) cash grants to 350,551 extremely poor households amounting to GH¢298,580,972.35 and the final cycle will be paid by the end of December 2023. Recipients of the five cycles of payments included 1,438 alleged witches in the witches’ camp and 278 cured persons in the Leprosariums at Ankaful, Jirapa and Weija.”

LEAP was established to reduce poverty by increasing and smoothing consumption and promoting access to services and opportunities among the extremely poor and vulnerable.

During the 2024 budget presentation in Parliament on Wednesday, November 15, Mr. Ofori-Atta further stated that the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection provided hot and nutritious meals to over three million pupils across over ten thousand public schools across the country.

He said 34,350 caterers and cooks were also employed under the program.

The Ministry provided one hot and nutritious meal to 3,801,491 pupils in 10,832 public basic schools for every school-going day under the School Feeding Program.

The program engaged 34,350 caterers and cooks and made payments to service providers for the second and third terms of the 2022 academic year and the first and second terms of the 2023 academic year, amounting to GH¢741,624,231.72.