<p>This study explored the interaction between formal social intervention programmes and traditional support networks in the Volta Region of Ghana. It aimed to understand whether the introduction of formal programmes has augmented or diminished the provision of informal support to vulnerable populations. Primary data were collected from three districts in the Volta Region using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. A total of 63 participants, including beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of formal protection programmes, district authorities, community and religious leaders, and media representatives, contributed to the data. This study reveals that formal social protection initiatives have neither undermined nor actively reinforced traditional support systems. National and local leaders have made no effort to integrate formal and informal support systems, leading them to function independently. This lack of coordination limits the potential of collaboration to address the needs of vulnerable populations. Policymakers and implementers should: (i) initiate and sustain dialogue as a useful first step for integrating traditional support structures into formal social interventions, (ii) incorporate relevant elements of traditional support into formal programmes, and (iii) lend credibility to such integration through legal and policy recognition. This study offers a unique contribution to the understanding of the coexistence of formal and traditional social protection systems in Ghana. It highlights missed opportunities for collaboration between these systems and proposes a coordinated model that departs from isolated social protection approaches in the existing literature.</p>