In a landmark pledge aimed at transforming the foundational stage of Ghana’s education system, President John Dramani Mahama has announced an ambitious plan to supply two million desks to the nation’s basic schools by the end of 2026.
The commitment, made during the President’s three-day state visit to Zambia, directly targets a critical infrastructural deficit that has seen an estimated 1.2 million Ghanaian pupils forced to learn while sitting on floors due to a lack of furniture.
Lamenting what he described as the historical neglect of basic education infrastructure, President Mahama contrasted previous policy focus with his new administration’s priorities. “The basic school level has been neglected. The previous government focused mainly on SHS because of their flagship Free SHS program. Many basic schools lack textbooks and furniture, and you often find children sitting on the floor,” he told the Ghanaian community in Lusaka.
He framed the initiative as a matter of urgent national dignity and academic necessity. “With unwavering determination, we are resolute in bridging this gap,” the President declared. “This year, we are going to provide two million school furnishings. By 2028, no Ghanaian pupil will have to sit on the floor to study.”
The bold pledge has been met with immediate approval from key education advocates. Kofi Asare, Executive Director of the education policy think tank Africa Education Watch, commended the government for prioritising the long-overlooked issue of student comfort and learning conditions.
“We hope that the desks will arrive soon because this is long overdue,” Asare stated, capturing a widespread sentiment among stakeholders who have long highlighted poor furniture as a barrier to quality education and student well-being.
The plan, if executed successfully, would mark one of the largest single furnishing projects in the history of Ghana’s basic education sector. It signals a significant shift in policy attention towards improving the learning environment at the primary and junior high school levels, where experts argue strong foundations are critical for long-term academic success.
All eyes will now be on the government’s procurement and distribution logistics to fulfil this high-profile promise on schedule.
