The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has launched a nationwide furniture donation campaign to help address critical shortages in basic, junior high and senior high schools across the country.

Dubbed the Collective Furniture Appeal, the initiative is being implemented under GETFund’s Education Financing and Partnership Initiative (EFPI). It seeks to mobilise support from corporate organisations, development partners, alumni associations, religious bodies, civil society organisations, philanthropists and individuals.

GETFund said the campaign follows numerous requests from schools across Ghana for essential furniture needed to improve teaching and learning conditions.

Items being sought include metal mono and dual desks, student chairs, bunk beds, teachers’ tables and chairs, and other essential furniture to provide safe, conducive learning environments.

According to GETFund, despite sustained government investment in educational infrastructure, furniture shortages remain a challenge in several communities, with some pupils still forced to share desks or learn under uncomfortable conditions.

The Fund said closing the furniture gap requires a collective national effort to complement government interventions.

“The Collective Furniture Appeal is a response to numerous requests from schools across the country seeking support to provide essential classroom furniture,” GETFund said.

Under the initiative, corporate institutions, non-governmental organisations, development partners, traditional authorities, religious organisations, community groups, alumni associations and individuals are encouraged to donate new or gently used furniture to schools in need.

GETFund said the initiative is aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s vision of transforming Ghana’s education sector through strategic partnerships, innovative financing and shared responsibility.

The campaign also forms part of the broader EFPI programme, which seeks to increase private-sector and philanthropic participation in financing educational development.

GETFund noted that the furniture campaign would complement government investments in school infrastructure, teaching and learning materials and other interventions aimed at improving educational outcomes.

The Fund has therefore appealed to the public to support the campaign, stressing that adequate classroom furniture is essential to creating a dignified and effective environment for both teachers and learners.

“Together, let us support the President’s vision for education by furnishing our classrooms, empowering our teachers, inspiring our learners, and ensuring that no child is left behind,” GETFund said.

Organisations and individuals interested in making bulk donations or partnering with GETFund under the EFPI initiative can contact Ms Adwoa Amankwah Boateng-Appiah on +233 50 865 2073 or adwoa.boateng@getfund.gov.gh for further information.

Source:myjoyonline

Three people have died after a mining pit collapsed on them at Odumase-Santenso in the Asante Akyem Central Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

The victims, identified as two women and a man, were reportedly between the ages of 21 and 25 and were engaged in illegal small-scale mining popularly known as “one-man” mining.

The incident occurred at about 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026.

According to the caretaker Assembly Member for the area and Assembly Member for the Bomeriso Electoral Area, Isaac Kyei Andoh, residents alerted him shortly after the pit collapsed, prompting an immediate rescue effort.

Mr Andoh said he informed the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), following which arrangements were made to secure a backhoe to assist in retrieving the trapped miners.

However, the equipment reportedly developed a mechanical fault and could not be deployed.

A private backhoe was subsequently arranged, but before it arrived at the scene, residents had already managed to dig through the collapsed pit and retrieve the bodies.

The three bodies were recovered between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., according to Mr Andoh.

Traditional rites were performed at the scene by local chiefs before the remains were conveyed to a mortuary.

Mr Andoh explained that the victims were involved in “one-man” mining, an unregulated form of small-scale mining in which individuals dig deep pits using basic or makeshift equipment in search of gold.

“I got a call around 4 p.m. about the pit collapse. We mobilised a vehicle to release the bodies from the pit. The chiefs performed some rites before the three bodies were sent to the mortuary. The deceased include two women and a man, aged between 21 and 25 years. The pit caved in and killed them,” he said.

The tragedy has renewed concerns about the dangers associated with unregulated mining activities in the area, particularly the use of unsafe mining pits and makeshift equipment.

It has also highlighted concerns over the loss of young lives through illegal mining operations in the Asante Akyem Central Municipality, with calls for stronger measures to prevent miners from working in hazardous conditions.

Source:Adomonline

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, has rejected allegations linking his bodyguards to gold trading and the alleged theft of GH¢200 million belonging to the state agency.

Speaking during an X Spaces session on Sunday, August 9, 2026, Mr Gyamfi described the claims as “laughable” and accused unnamed political opponents of orchestrating a deliberate disinformation campaign against him and GoldBod.

He insisted that none of his bodyguards is involved in gold trading or has stolen money belonging to GoldBod.

“None of my bodyguards is involved in gold trading, and none of my bodyguards has stolen or taken Gold Board money,” he said.

Mr Gyamfi also distanced himself from Dominic Bonsu, a licensed gold dealer at the centre of the controversy, denying claims that Bonsu had served as his bodyguard.

According to the GoldBod CEO, Bonsu is, to his understanding, an NPP constituency executive in the Manso area of the Ashanti Region and has no personal relationship with him.

He further described suggestions that Bonsu was part of his security detail as “laughable”, citing the physical differences between the two men.

“You can see that I’m a very lean guy, but the last time I saw him, when he was brought from remand custody, I saw that I’m more muscular than him. I’m bigger than him. I don’t see how that guy can be my bodyguard. So it is laughable,” he said.

Mr Gyamfi accused some of his political opponents of deliberately spreading false information to damage his reputation and undermine GoldBod.

He alleged that the campaign was being led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Atiwa East MP Abena Osei-Asare and Ofoase Ayirebi MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

“There is a deliberate disinformation agenda against Sammy Gyamfi and the GoldBod by people who think that Sammy Gyamfi is the reason why they are in opposition. So it is time to pay Sammy Gyamfi back,” he said.

He urged journalists and members of the public to independently verify allegations made against him or GoldBod before accepting them as fact.

Mr Gyamfi also claimed that some of his critics had been protected from legal action because certain allegations were made under parliamentary privilege.

He warned that he would consider legal action if the same allegations were repeated outside Parliament.

Addressing questions about Dominic Bonsu, Mr Gyamfi said Bonsu was a licensed Tier Two gold buyer under GoldBod’s regulatory framework.

He stressed that GoldBod’s licensing process was digital and based on qualification rather than political affiliation.

“We don’t look at people’s political colours — we give licences to any Ghanaian who is qualified,” he said.

Mr Gyamfi explained that, because the licensing system is digital, he personally does not meet most of the individuals who receive licences from the institution.

He said he had signed more than 1,000 licences but was unlikely to have met face-to-face with 99 per cent of the licensees.

GoldBod has previously stated that Dominic Bonsu Ventures’ Tier Two gold trading licence was suspended in July 2026 over suspected breaches of licence conditions and trading directives.

Bonsu was subsequently arrested and remanded into custody by an Accra High Court, with the case still pending.

GoldBod and Mr Gyamfi’s lawyers have separately rejected claims that the institution suffered a GH¢200 million loss, describing the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory.

Beyond the controversy, Mr Gyamfi used the X Spaces session to highlight the government’s broader plans for Ghana’s gold sector.

He said the administration was focused on strengthening the domestic gold value chain, increasing local refining capacity and improving oversight of gold trading activities.

He also credited the Mahama administration’s gold-led reserve accumulation strategy with contributing to a significant increase in Ghana’s foreign reserves.

According to Mr Gyamfi, the country’s foreign reserves have risen from approximately US$8.9 billion to US$13.8 billion under President John Dramani Mahama.

He maintained that GoldBod’s reforms were aimed at ensuring Ghana derives greater value from its gold resources while strengthening transparency and oversight across the sector.

Source:3news

A Queen Mother reportedly fell from a palanquin during the ongoing Mozama Festival at Gomoa Tarkwa in Ghana’s Central Region.

The incident occurred as chiefs and queen mothers gathered at the festival grounds to take part in the colourful traditional celebrations.

As part of the festivities, several traditional leaders were carried on palanquins while dancing and engaging with the crowd during the procession.

However, the joyful celebration took an unexpected turn when one of the Queen Mothers reportedly lost her balance and fell from the palanquin.

The incident attracted the attention of people at the festival, with attendees watching as efforts were made to assist her.

The Mozama Festival continues to draw traditional leaders, residents and visitors together to celebrate the cultural heritage and traditions of Gomoa Tarkwa.

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Former Amenfi Central Member of Parliament, Hon. Engineer George Kofi Arthur, has emerged as a prominent contender for the position of Western Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), bringing to the internal contest more than a decade of parliamentary experience, extensive party involvement and a professional background spanning engineering, education, construction and governance.

Hon. Arthur, who is positioning himself for the regional leadership role, is seeking to leverage his years of experience in Parliament, grassroots party organisation and public service to contribute to strengthening the NDC in the Western Region.

Born on February 24, 1969, at Wassa Agona Amenfi in the Western Region, George Kofi Arthur has built a political career spanning several decades.

He represented the Amenfi Central Constituency in Parliament from 2005 to 2017, serving three consecutive terms as a legislator.

During his time in Parliament, he was involved in several key parliamentary committees, gaining experience in areas including roads and transport, public accounts, defence and interior, agriculture, housing, employment and social welfare.

His parliamentary responsibilities included serving as Chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee. He also served as Deputy Ranking Member of the Public Accounts Committee for more than a decade, roles that exposed him to parliamentary oversight, public financial management, national security and governance issues.

Academic and professional background

Hon. Arthur’s academic background cuts across education, engineering and governance.

He holds a Diploma in Education with Distinction in Educational Technology from the Presbyterian College of Education.

He subsequently obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Technology, specialising in the Electronics and Automotive option, from the University of Education, Winneba.

He further pursued a Master’s Degree in Governance and Leadership at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

His supporters believe the combination of technical training, education and governance gives him a broad understanding of both institutional management and development challenges.

Before and alongside his political career, Hon. Arthur worked in several professional capacities, including as a teacher, engineer, electronics specialist and construction professional.

His professional experience includes work with Toyota Ghana, Anyasco Electronics and Afrangua Construction Limited.

Through his involvement in the construction sector, he contributed to road infrastructure projects in parts of the Western and Western North regions, giving him practical exposure to infrastructure development and some of the challenges confronting communities in the two regions.

His professional background has also placed him in areas connected to employment creation, industrial development, infrastructure and technical skills development.

Long-standing NDC involvement

Beyond his parliamentary career, Hon. Arthur has maintained a long-standing association with the NDC and its organisational structures.

He previously served as General Secretary of the Mpohor Constituency and has also been a member of the party’s National Communications Team.

His political and leadership experience extends beyond elected office, with his involvement in party organisation and leadership activities dating back to his student and professional years.

Supporters say this experience has given him an understanding of the importance of grassroots mobilisation and effective coordination between constituency structures and the regional leadership.

Bid for Western Regional Chairmanship

The contest for the Western Regional Chairmanship comes at a time when political parties are strengthening their structures and positioning themselves ahead of future electoral contests.

For his supporters, Hon. Arthur’s three terms in Parliament, extensive committee experience, professional background and involvement in NDC organisational activities make him a candidate with the experience required to lead the region.

They argue that his understanding of parliamentary processes, party structures and regional development issues could help improve coordination among constituencies and strengthen the party’s organisational capacity.

His background in infrastructure and development is also being presented as an advantage, particularly in a region where concerns over roads, employment, industrialisation and equitable distribution of development opportunities remain important issues.

With his declaration of readiness, George Kofi Arthur now enters the conversation surrounding the future leadership of the NDC in the Western Region.

His campaign is expected to focus on his record of public service, institutional experience, party commitment and professional competence as he seeks to convince delegates that he can provide effective leadership for the regional party structure.

As the NDC’s internal processes continue to take shape, the former Amenfi Central MP’s profile places him among the experienced figures seeking to influence the direction of the party in the Western Region.

His bid ultimately presents the delegates with a candidate whose political career has combined three terms in Parliament, extensive committee leadership, grassroots party organisation and professional experience in engineering, education and construction.