By Alex Ababio
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has issued a strong public warning against a fraudulent online advertisement falsely claiming the existence of a so-called “LEAP GH¢3,500.00 Empowerment Fund 2026.” The alert, released in collaboration with the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Management Secretariat (LMS), exposes a carefully crafted scam that authorities say is designed to exploit vulnerable Ghanaians who depend on social protection programmes.
According to the Ministry, the purported empowerment fund does not exist and was not issued, authorised, or endorsed by the MoGCSP or the LEAP Management Secretariat. The warning was issued and signed by Dr. Myle Ongoh, Head of the LEAP Programme at the MoGCSP, and made available to the Ghana News Agency.
“The circulating advertisement is fake and was not issued, authorised, or endorsed by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection or the LEAP Management Secretariat,” the statement categorically said.
But beyond the public disclaimer lies a deeper and troubling trend: the increasing sophistication of digital scams targeting government social intervention programmes in Ghana.
What Is LEAP—and Why Scammers Target It
The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme is Ghana’s flagship social protection initiative aimed at reducing extreme poverty and vulnerability. Since its introduction in 2008, LEAP has provided bi-monthly cash transfers to extremely poor households, including older persons without productive capacity, persons with severe disabilities, and caregivers of orphans and vulnerable children.
By 2024, government data indicated that over 350,000 households nationwide were benefiting from LEAP cash transfers, making the programme one of the most visible and trusted poverty-alleviation interventions in the country. That visibility, experts say, also makes LEAP a prime target for fraudsters.
“Any programme that directly involves cash transfers and targets vulnerable populations becomes attractive to scammers,” said a digital forensics analyst with experience investigating cyber fraud in West Africa. “People trust the name LEAP, so once scammers attach money to it—especially a lump sum like GH¢3,500—it lowers suspicion.”
Anatomy of the Fake “GH¢3,500 Empowerment Fund” Campaign
According to the MoGCSP, the fraudulent advertisement is being circulated primarily through social media platforms and messaging applications, including WhatsApp and Facebook. The message typically urges recipients to click on a link to “apply” for the supposed GH¢3,500 empowerment fund for 2026.
The Ministry warned that the website link being circulated is not an official Government of Ghana platform and should not be accessed under any circumstances.
“The link was designed to harvest personal and financial information from unsuspecting citizens,” the statement explained.
Investigations into similar scams in recent years show that such websites often mimic government branding, using national colours, official-sounding language, and fabricated testimonials to appear legitimate. Victims are usually prompted to submit sensitive information, including:
Ghana Card numbers
Mobile money wallet details
Bank account information
Phone numbers and verification codes
Once obtained, this information is used for identity theft, unauthorised mobile money withdrawals, or resale on underground digital markets.
Vulnerable Populations at the Center of the Risk
The Ministry clarified that the fraudulent campaign was deliberately designed to steal personal data and money from unsuspecting citizens, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations who depend on social protection programmes.
Social policy experts note that beneficiaries of programmes like LEAP often have limited access to verified information channels and may rely heavily on word-of-mouth or forwarded messages on WhatsApp.
“When a message promises a large, one-off payment and claims it is linked to an existing government programme, people are more likely to believe it,” said a social development researcher familiar with Ghana’s welfare systems. “Scammers exploit both economic hardship and information gaps.”
Civil society organisations working in community development have also raised concerns that such scams erode trust in genuine government interventions, making beneficiaries suspicious even when legitimate support is announced.
Government’s Official Response and Public Advisory
In its statement, the MoGCSP urged members of the public to take the following precautions:
Refrain from clicking on the fraudulent link or sharing the message
Never provide personal or financial information, including Ghana Card details, bank account numbers, or mobile money credentials
Immediately report the scam to the Ghana Police Service, the Single Window Citizens Engagement Service, or the LEAP Management Secretariat
The Ministry further advised the public to rely strictly on official communication channels for information about LEAP and other social intervention initiatives.
“For accurate and verified information regarding the LEAP Programme and other social protection initiatives, the public should contact the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development at their respective Metropolitan, Municipal, or District Assemblies (MMDAs),” the statement said.
Rising Digital Fraud in Ghana: A Broader Context
The fake LEAP advertisement emerges against the backdrop of rising cyber-enabled fraud in Ghana. Law enforcement agencies and financial institutions have repeatedly warned about scams involving fake government grants, recruitment portals, and social welfare payments.
In recent years, the Ghana Police Service’s Cybercrime Unit and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) have investigated multiple cases involving cloned government websites and impersonation of public institutions. Financial sector reports also show a steady increase in mobile money-related fraud, with social engineering scams accounting for a significant proportion of reported losses.
Cybersecurity analysts say scammers increasingly time their campaigns to coincide with national budget discussions, election cycles, or public conversations about social spending—moments when citizens expect new government interventions.
The Role of the Media and Public Vigilance
Authorities have called on the media and the general public to help amplify the warning to prevent further victimisation. Media experts argue that timely and sustained reporting on such scams is essential to counter misinformation.
“Scam alerts should not be treated as one-day stories,” said a media ethics consultant. “They need repetition, local language translations, and community-level engagement to reach the people most at risk.”
Community radio stations, information centres, and civil society groups have been encouraged to disseminate the warning, especially in rural and peri-urban areas where LEAP beneficiaries are concentrated.
Protecting Social Protection Programmes from Abuse
Policy analysts say the fake GH¢3,500 LEAP empowerment fund highlights the urgent need for stronger public education on how government programmes are announced and implemented.
Experts recommend that:
All social intervention announcements clearly state that no payment requires online registration via unofficial links
Government institutions maintain regularly updated, easily accessible official websites and verified social media accounts
Beneficiaries receive continuous education through MMDAs on how to identify and report scams
While the MoGCSP’s swift response has helped limit the spread of the fake advertisement, analysts warn that scammers are likely to adapt and rebrand similar schemes under new names.
Conclusion: A Warning Beyond One Scam
The government’s alert over the fake “LEAP GH¢3,500.00 Empowerment Fund 2026” is more than a denial of a non-existent programme—it is a reminder of the growing threat of digital fraud targeting public trust.
As economic pressures persist and reliance on social protection programmes grows, safeguarding beneficiaries from exploitation has become as critical as the cash transfers themselves. Authorities insist that vigilance, verified information, and prompt reporting remain the strongest defenses.
For now, the Ministry’s message is clear: the advertisement is fake, the fund does not exist, and no one should engage with the link under any circumstances.