Zoomlion-YEA contract: Your cancellation petition is being given the necessary attention — Presidency to Manasseh

The Office of the President has responded to a petition filed by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, calling for the discontinuation of a long-running sanitation module contract between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and waste management firm, Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

In his petition, Manasseh revealed that the contract, which expired in September 2024 and is pending renewal, allocates GHS850 per worker to Zoomlion each month.

Out of this amount, GHS258 is paid as a monthly allowance to each sweeper, while the remaining GHS592 is retained by the company for administrative purposes.

According to Manasseh, the arrangement is unfair to the sweepers and riddled with discrepancies.

He argues that the number of workers Zoomlion presents for payment does not reflect the actual number on the ground.

“The YEA has no data to verify the 45,000 sweepers Zoomlion presents for payment every month. Even after raising alarm in 2018, a YEA headcount found only 38,884 sweepers on the ground—far fewer than Zoomlion’s claim,” he stated.

Manasseh further proposed that the contract be discontinued to allow Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), together with the YEA, to directly supervise the sweepers.

“In this way, the assemblies can have full control over those paid with their share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF),” he added.

In a letter dated May 5 and signed by the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, the Presidency assured that the matter is receiving the necessary attention and that the outcome will be communicated in due course.

“I acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 27th April 2025 regarding the subject above.

“This is to inform you that the matter is being given the necessary attention, and the outcome will be communicated to you in due course,” the letter read.