President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government will not renew the 19-year-old contract between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
According to the President, funds saved from terminating the agreement will be redirected to improve the wages of sweepers under the program. He cited potential cost savings as a key reason for this decision.
This move was disclosed in a response letter to investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, who had petitioned the President to cancel the contract. Awuni’s petition included detailed evidence of corruption and mismanagement associated with the long-standing arrangement.
The government emphasised that this decision aligns with efforts to improve transparency, enhance sanitation services, and ensure value for public funds.
The letter, which responded to a petition by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, outlined several key actions:
- Contract Termination: The sanitation module contract between the YEA and Zoomlion has expired and will not be renewed going forward.
- Audit of Payments: The government will conduct a thorough audit of all payments made to Zoomlion Ghana after the expiration of the contract. Any unauthorised disbursements will be identified and recovered to protect taxpayer money.
- Improved Sweeper Compensation: With anticipated cost savings from ending the contract, the government aims to increase the monthly allowances for sanitation workers (sweepers), providing them with a more liveable income.
This decision marks a significant shift in Ghana’s approach to public sanitation services, with an emphasis on fiscal accountability, improved worker welfare, and better sanitation outcomes.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to sanitation reform, promising more efficient use of public resources in future contracts.
Earlier,
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale, has made a firm declaration not to renew the existing contract with Zoomlion Ghana Limited if the current wage of GH¢250 for sanitation workers remains unchanged.
In a strongly worded Facebook post on Friday, 25 April, Basintale criticised the current terms of engagement, describing them as exploitative and unjust to the Ghanaian youth.
