Presidency Says Controversial Zoomlion-YEA Contract Won’t Be Renewed, Manasseh Azure Shares Details

• The Mahama administration does not plan to renew the controversial contract between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited
• Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni shared the update following a letter from the presidency
• The government also said it plans to increase the fees paid to sanitation workers after some protests

The Mahama administration does not plan to renew the state contract between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and waste management firm Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

According to a letter from the presidency shared by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, all payments made to Zoomlion after the contract’s expiration will undergo a thorough audit.

The letter, first shared by Awuni, was in response to a petition filed by the investigative journalist on April 27.

The contract with Zoomlion has long been criticised as not offering value for money and being exploitative.

There have been complaints that the street sweepers do not make enough from the contract.

The government said it plans to increase the fees paid to sanitation workers to ensure a more livable income.

Additionally, fumigation contracts currently in place will be reviewed for performance, and any that fall short of acceptable standards will be terminated, following advice from the Attorney-General.

Before this, YEA CEO Malik Basintale vowed to ensure changes to the work terms of Zoomlion cleaners.

Basintale also criticised the Akufo-Addo administration for sticking to terms that paid cleaners GH¢250.

"It is EVIL for the Previous government to have committed to this, and I SHALL STOP IT. My brothers and sisters, on December 7th, 2024, Change came and Change must happen."

"If my mother/Brother/Sister were a Zoomlion worker, I wouldn't be happy with either of them taking Ghc250 as Salary and as such, I can't be happy with you, your mother, father, brother or sister taking the same."

About Manasseh's advocacy against Zoomlion deal

Manasseh first revealed corruption in the Zoomlion contract in 2013 after an investigative report.

He has spent the years since advocating for the discontinuation of the contract.

Under the terms of the contract, GH¢850 was allocated to each sweeper. Zoomlion keeps GH¢600 and pays the sweepers GH¢250 a month, according to the contract.

Zoomlion also charges interest if the YEA delays in paying the company for three months. In 2024, the company charged an interest of GH¢90 million.

The YEA also has no data to verify the 45,000 sweepers Zoomlion presents for payment every month, even after raising an alarm in 2018.

Its headcount showed 38,884 sweepers were on the ground, contradicting Zoomlion’s claim of 45,000.

Aggrieved sweepers have also had cause to protest the late payment of salaries.

Jospong Group signs deal with German company

In 2024, YEN.com.gh reported that the Jospong Group of Companies and its Nigerian subsidiary, Zoomlion Nigeria Limited, struck an export deal with a German-based company.

The German company in question was FIMA Industries GmbH and Faun Umwelttechnik GmbH.

The export deal involved exporting waste management services and equipment, and is expected to promote sustainable practices and a cleaner environment.

Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh