'We didn't ask Sanitation Committee of Parliament to interfere in YEA-Zoomlion sanitation contract dispute' — Majority Leader

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Caucus has firmly stated that it has not authorised any interference in the Youth Employment Agency’s (YEA) decision regarding its sanitation contract with Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

In a statement released on April 25, 2025, Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mahama Ayariga, made it clear that the Sanitation Committee of Parliament has not been mandated to involve itself in any contractual matters between YEA and Zoomlion.

“The Chairman of the Committee has reported to me that, contrary to media reports, neither he nor any committee member has attempted to do any such thing,” Ayariga emphasised.

The Caucus cautioned that any comments from individual members of the Sanitation Committee that appear to defend Zoomlion’s sanitation contract should be disregarded by both the YEA and the general public. According to Ayariga, such remarks do not reflect the official position of the Committee or Parliament.

The statement also warned Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) against succumbing to pressure from any authority to enter into sanitation contracts with specific companies. Mahama Ayariga reminded the Assemblies that Parliament, following a directive from former President John Dramani Mahama, had ensured that 80% of the District Assemblies Common Fund was allocated directly to the Assemblies to grant them greater autonomy over their development priorities.

“No Metropolitan, Municipal or District Assembly should in any form or manner allow itself to be intimidated by any authority to enter into any sanitation contract with any particular company,” Ayariga stressed.

The NDC Caucus reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the independence of local authorities and maintaining transparency and fairness in public procurement processes.