President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed that his office is reviewing a petition submitted by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, which calls for the termination of the long-standing contract between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
The President described the matter as one “being given the necessary attention.”
The petition, submitted two weeks ago, criticizes what Mr. Awuni terms a “corruption-ridden and wasteful” agreement that has governed the YEA’s sanitation module for nearly 20 years.
Under the terms of the contract, which expired in September 2024, each sanitation worker (sweeper) is allocated GH¢850 monthly, of which Zoomlion retains GH¢600, leaving only GH¢250 to be paid directly to the workers.
In his petition, Mr. Awuni outlines a pattern of financial mismanagement and lack of transparency. He points to discrepancies in the number of sweepers reported by Zoomlion, claiming that the company’s payroll data for the 45,000 sweepers it supposedly employs each month lacks verification.
A headcount by the YEA in 2018 identified only 38,884 active sweepers. Despite repeated requests, Zoomlion has allegedly failed to provide payrolls for verification.
The situation has been further complicated by Zoomlion charging the state GH¢90 million in interest for delayed payments by the YEA in 2024, raising concerns about the company’s fiscal practices and accountability.
In response to the petition, President Mahama’s office issued a letter signed by Dr. Callistus Mahama, the Secretary to the President, acknowledging receipt of the petition. The letter assured Mr. Awuni that the matter was being taken seriously and that the outcome of the review would be communicated in due course.
Meanwhile, Zoomlion’s latest proposal, currently under review by the YEA, seeks to increase the monthly allocation per sweeper to GH¢1,308, with GH¢888 allocated to the company and GH¢420 to the worker. Critics argue that the proposed increase still leaves the sweepers underpaid while Zoomlion continues to benefit disproportionately.
The contract has faced mounting criticism in recent years. The immediate past CEO of YEA, Kofi Baah Agyepong, recommended terminating the agreement, asserting that the agency could manage the sanitation module independently, similar to its other employment programs where beneficiaries receive direct payments.
Mr. Awuni, in his petition, proposes that local assemblies and the YEA take over direct responsibility for the sweepers. He believes that this would allow for better supervision of sanitation workers and ensure more equitable compensation, as payments could be made directly from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
In addition, Zoomlion holds a separate contract under the Sanitation Improvement Package (SIP) to collect refuse from the sweepers. Mr. Awuni suggested that this aspect of the arrangement could be retained temporarily to ensure the continuity of waste management services.
Speaking to the media after submitting his petition, Mr. Awuni recalled the decisive actions taken by President Mahama during the 2013 investigations into the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA). These included the cancellation of corrupt contracts, the enactment of the YEA Act, and the retrieval of misappropriated funds.
“With the documentary evidence I submitted with the petition, I am confident that the President will terminate the Zoomlion contract, which is the only YEA contract that was not cancelled after my 2013 investigations,” Mr. Awuni stated.
The outcome of the President’s review could have significant implications for Ghana’s public employment strategies and the future role of third-party contractors in managing essential public services. As the nation awaits the President’s decision, the debate over accountability, transparency, and value for money in government contracts continues to grow.
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