I’m giving the ‘necessary attention’ to your Zoomlion-YEA contract petition – Mahama responds to Manasseh

President John Dramani Mahama has received a petition from journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni. The petition calls for ending the contract between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

A letter from Dr. Callistus Mahama, the Secretary to the President, confirmed this. It stated that the matter is being reviewed and will be addressed soon.

The petition was submitted two weeks ago. It urges the President to end a 19-year-old contract that Mr. Azure claims is flawed and not cost-effective.

Under the last agreement, which has now expired, the government paid GHS850 per sanitation worker. Zoomlion kept GHS600 and paid each worker only GHS250 monthly.

Additionally, Zoomlion charged interest on delayed payments to the government. This included a GHS90 million charge in 2024, despite delays in paying workers for up to a year.

Critics argue that Zoomlion did not provide proof of borrowing funds for these interest charges.

Zoomlion has submitted a new proposal to YEA, which is under review. In this proposal, the per-worker allocation would increase to GHS1,308. Zoomlion would keep GHS888 and pay each sweeper GHS420.

Mr. Azure believes these terms are still exploitative. He has urged the presidency to intervene and described the contract as “fraught with corruption.”