Budget 2025: Gov’t deepens social interventions with free tertiary for PWDs, LEAP, NHIS others

By Juliet ETEFE

Government has significantly ramped up investment in social protection and human development programmes as part of its 2025 Budget, with initiatives aimed at vulnerable groups including students, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), women, and low-income households.

Announcing the measures in Parliament on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson said the government was focused on “restoring hope and cushioning the vulnerable in our society.”

Key among the initiatives is the implementation of Free Tertiary Education for all Persons with Disabilities, as well as the “No-Fee-Stress” Policy, which removes academic fees for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions.

“We are determined to remove every barrier to education and empower young Ghanaians to reach their full potential. The government has allocated GH¢499.8 million to implement the “No-Fee-Stress” policy,” Dr. Forson stated

In a bid to improve menstrual hygiene and school attendance among adolescent girls, the government has also earmarked GH¢292.4 million to provide free sanitary pads to girls in primary and secondary schools.

“This is not just a health initiative. It is an equity and empowerment intervention,” the Minister emphasised.

Also, the School Feeding Programme has received a significant budgetary boost, increasing from GH¢1.344 billion in 2024 to GH¢1.788 billion in 2025, with the cost of feeding per pupil per day rising from GH¢1.50 to GH¢2.00—a 33% increase.

“We cannot educate hungry children. This increase will ensure better nutrition and learning outcomes,” Dr. Forson said.

Other education-related allocations include GH¢564.6 million for free textbooks, GH¢145.5 million for the Capitation Grant, and GH¢3.5 billion for Free SHS education. To sustainably fund the Free SHS programme, the government has uncapped the GETFund, releasing an additional GH¢4.1 billion.

Also noteworthy is the revival of Teacher and Nursing Trainee allowances, with allocations of GH¢203 million and GH¢480 million, respectively.

In the health sector, the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) has also been uncapped, with GH¢9.93 billion allocated to NHIS to fund claims, vaccines, and new initiatives like Free Primary Healthcare and MahamaCares for non-communicable disease treatment.

The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme has been expanded to cover 400,000 households from July 2025, up from 350,000 currently. The benefit amount has also been indexed to inflation, with budget rising to GH¢953.5 million, a 30.8% increase.

“We are not only increasing reach but ensuring real value for beneficiaries,” the finance minister emphasised.

Additionally, the Road Fund and DACF have been uncapped, allocating GH¢2.81 billion for road maintenance and GH¢7.51 billion to District Assemblies, with at least 80% of the latter to be spent directly at district level to deepen decentralisation.

With these investments, government says it is laying the foundation for a more inclusive society, while creating opportunities for all citizens to thrive.

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