Mahama responds to Manasseh Awuni over Zoomlion-YEA contract petition

President John Mahama has responded to journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni. He said the petition to end the YEA-Zoomlion contract “is being given the necessary attention.”

Two weeks ago, Awuni formally asked Mahama to cancel the 19-year-old contract. This contract is between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

Under the current contract, which expires in September 2024, GH¢850 is allocated per sweeper. Zoomlion keeps GH¢600 and pays sweepers GH¢250 monthly.

If YEA delays payments for three months, Zoomlion charges interest. In 2024, this interest amounted to GH¢90 million.

Zoomlion recently stated that its new proposal is “under discussion” at YEA. They want to increase the allocation per sweeper to GH¢1,308. In this plan, Zoomlion would take GH¢888 and pay sweepers GH¢420 a month.

The YEA lacks data to confirm Zoomlion's claim of 45,000 sweepers each month. In 2018, they raised concerns about this number.

According to YEA’s headcount, only 38,884 sweepers are active. The CEO of YEA, Justin Kodua Frimpong, noted that Zoomlion did not submit its payroll for verification when requested.

In 2022, YEA could not provide data when Accra Metropolitan Assembly complained about inactive sweepers. Despite this, Zoomlion continued billing for 45,000 people monthly.

Awuni argues that the contract is corrupt and does not provide value for money. A letter from Dr. Callistus Mahama acknowledged receipt of his petition.

The letter stated that the matter is receiving necessary attention and will be communicated later.

Past CEOs of YEA have also expressed concerns about this contract. Kofi Baah Agyepong suggested cancelling it since YEA can manage without a third party.

Awuni proposed discontinuing the contract so assemblies can directly supervise sweepers. This would allow better control over payments using funds from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).

Removing Zoomlion as a middleman could lead to better wages for sweepers and improved motivation for their work.

Zoomlion has another contract with assemblies for waste collection from YEA sweepers. This Sanitation Improvement Package (SIP) requires trucks that some assemblies lack due to budget deductions for paying Zoomlion.

Awuni mentioned in his petition that assemblies could maintain their SIP contracts with Zoomlion without immediate termination to avoid sanitation issues.

He recalled how President Mahama took decisive actions against GYEEDA in 2013 by terminating contracts and prosecuting individuals involved in corruption.

With evidence submitted alongside his petition, Awuni believes Mahama will terminate the Zoomlion contract. He noted it was the only remaining contract after his investigations into GYEEDA despite serious findings against Zoomlion.