Zoomlion Ghana Limited has officially responded to recent controversy surrounding its sanitation contract with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), stating clearly that the agreement expired naturally in September 2024—contrary to claims that it was abruptly cancelled by the government.
The company, in a detailed statement issued over the weekend, explained that the five-year sanitation module contract, originally signed with YEA, had gone through a six-month extension period, which ran its full course and ended in September last year. The extension followed internal consultations and formal approval from the Office of the President and the Ministry of Finance.
This response follows a presidential directive to the Office of the Head of Civil Service to investigate the contract’s status and payments made after expiration. The directive was prompted by a formal petition from investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, who raised red flags about the contract’s transparency and value for money.
Zoomlion emphasized that it welcomes government audits into payments made beyond the official expiration date and has pledged full cooperation. “We believe such audits will ensure accountability, dispel misinformation, and clarify our track record in sanitation delivery,” the company noted.
Zoomlion also used the opportunity to highlight its wider contribution to Ghana’s sanitation infrastructure, particularly its role in engaging thousands of youth under the street sweeping and waste collection programme managed in partnership with YEA. The company pointed out that the sanitation model it pioneered has been adopted by over 24 African countries seeking to modernize their waste management sectors. “We are proud to have developed a Ghanaian model that is now a reference point in Africa’s sanitation sector,” the statement added.
The entire episode was triggered when Manasseh Azure petitioned the presidency, alleging possible irregularities in the renewal and execution of the Zoomlion-YEA contract. His concerns focused on alleged payments made after the contract expired, which he argued should not have been disbursed without parliamentary or executive ratification.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo subsequently ordered an administrative probe, directing the Head of Civil Service to verify the validity of contract payments post-September 2024, and recommend appropriate action.
In line with public procurement best practices, the government has announced a new competitive model for awarding sanitation-related contracts. This transition means agencies like Zoomlion will have to participate in open bidding to secure future public waste management contracts, particularly for YEA modules and metropolitan assemblies.
Zoomlion has welcomed this development, saying it supports transparency and healthy competition in Ghana’s sanitation sector.