'June 29 floods were not caused by YEA-Zoomlion contract cancellation' — Manasseh Azure

Investigative journalist and author Manasseh Azure Awuni has urged President John Dramani Mahama to remain resolute over the cancellation of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA)-Zoomlion sanitation contract.

He stated that the administration should expect a coordinated campaign of blackmail and sabotage in the sanitation sector.

His comments come amid growing public debate over the June 29 floods, with some critics, including Minority Leader Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin claiming the deadly floods were partly caused by the government's decision to terminate the YEA-Zoomlion contract.

The critics argue that the move left cities and drains poorly maintained.

However, in a lengthy social media post shared on Friday, July 3, and addressed to President Mahama, Manasseh Azure described those claims as false.

He asserted that the cancellation affected only the supervision of sweepers and not Zoomlion's waste collection and disposal contracts with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

"I am writing to alert you to prepare for a wave of blackmail against the administration in the sanitation sector. Also, prepare for sabotage from some of your own appointees, especially ministers, and metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) across the country," he wrote.

The investigative journalist argued that the YEA contract had, for years, been used as a vehicle to siphon public funds while sweepers received little benefit, describing President Mahama's decision to terminate it as bold and widely welcomed by many Ghanaians.

He argued that attributing the recent flooding and the accumulation of refuse to the cancellation of the contract was misleading because Zoomlion continues to hold separate contracts for waste transportation, landfill management, transfer stations and other sanitation services.

According to him, the government should clearly communicate which sanitation contracts remain in force so that the public can hold the appropriate institutions accountable instead of blaming the cancelled YEA arrangement.

"Mr President, poor sanitation breeds public health challenges, so don't allow the saboteurs to lead us there and blackmail you into signing dubious deals. That is why I decided to draw your attention to this," he stated.