President John Dramani Mahama has acknowledged receiving investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni’s petition to terminate the longstanding contract between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited. The President assured that the matter is “being given the necessary attention.”
The 19-year-old contract, which expired in September 2024, has come under scrutiny for its financial arrangements. Under the previous terms, each sanitation worker (sweeper) was allocated GH¢850 monthly. Zoomlion retained GH¢600 for management and logistics, while the sweepers received GH¢250.
In 2024, Zoomlion charged the government GH¢90 million in interest due to delayed payments from the YEA. Critics argue that the company did not provide evidence of borrowing funds to justify these interest claims.
Zoomlion has proposed a new contract under discussion at the YEA, seeking to increase the allocation per sweeper to GH¢1,308. Under this proposal, Zoomlion would retain GH¢888, and the sweepers would receive GH¢420 monthly.
Manasseh Azure Awuni’s petition highlights concerns over the lack of transparency and accountability in the contract, suggesting that the YEA and district assemblies directly manage the sweepers to ensure better wages and oversight.
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