The education advocacy group Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has urged the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Education to enforce a minimum one-year warranty on all school desks procured for public basic schools.
Earlier this year, the government allocated about GHC600 million from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for nationwide desk procurement to address the country’s severe furniture deficit, estimated at around one million desks.
However, Eduwatch raised concerns that desks supplied under previous programmes often deteriorate within a year, undermining value for money and leaving thousands of pupils without adequate learning spaces.
“The supply of substandard desks increases recurrent spending and diminishes the quality of education,” the group said in a statement.
Eduwatch stressed that introducing a mandatory warranty would ensure suppliers take responsibility for defects, encourage higher production standards, and prolong the lifespan of school furniture.
“A mandatory warranty will ensure suppliers take responsibility for product defects, motivate higher production standards, and extend the lifespan of school furniture,” the statement added.
The group highlighted that countries such as South Africa, Kenya, and Rwanda require warranties on school furniture to guarantee quality, safeguard public funds, and improve accountability in the supply chain.
Eduwatch has called on both Ministries to issue clear procurement guidelines, directing all District Assemblies to include warranty clauses before awarding contracts.
The group also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting policy reforms that ensure safe, durable, and cost-effective learning environments for all Ghanaian children.