Eduwatch Calls for Mandatory One-Year Warranty on School Desks to Protect Public Funds
By: Solomon Nartey Tetteh
Education advocacy organisation Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) has called on the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Education to require a minimum one-year warranty on all school desks procured for public basic schools.
Earlier this year, government allocated approximately GHC600 million from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for nationwide desk procurement as part of efforts to address the country’s severe furniture deficit, estimated at nearly one million desks.
Eduwatch, however, cautions that desks supplied under previous procurement programs often deteriorate in less than a year, undermining value for money and leaving thousands of pupils without adequate seating and learning spaces.
“The supply of substandard desks increases recurrent spending and diminishes the quality of education,” the group said in a statement.
Eduwatch stated that a mandatory warranty would compel suppliers to take responsibility for defective products, encourage higher production standards, and help extend the lifespan of school furniture.
The advocacy group noted that countries such as South Africa, Kenya, and Rwanda already require warranties on school furniture to guarantee quality, protect public funds, and enhance accountability in the supply chain.
Eduwatch has therefore called on the two Ministries to issue clear procurement guidelines directing all District Assemblies to include warranty clauses before awarding contracts.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting policy reforms that promote safe, durable, and cost-effective learning environments for all Ghanaian children.
