Manasseh Azure fires back at Parliament’s Sanitation Committee over Zoomlion contract defense

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has reacted to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation. He disagrees with their dismissal of his call to cancel the sanitation contract between the Youth Employment Authority (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

In a letter to Committee Chair John Kwabena Bless Oti, Manasseh criticized some comments as misleading. He argued that no jobs would be lost if the contract ended. “The people are paid by the state,” he explained. They would report to district assemblies instead of Zoomlion.

Manasseh condemned what he called a blind defense of Zoomlion. He believes patriotism should not protect unethical practices from scrutiny. “Supporting Ghanaian businesses doesn’t mean we should condone fraud,” he stated.

He drew parallels with past instances where Ghanaians exploited their own people. Manasseh also accused the Committee of failing to challenge Zoomlion CEO Joseph Siaw Agyepong about low wages for workers. He questioned why management fees were GH¢600 for work valued at only GH¢250 per person.

“Zoomlion makes about GH¢20 million a month,” he noted, while cleaners earn very little. Their daily pay cannot even buy basic meals, he lamented. The issue of underpayment has persisted for over a decade.

Many cleaners have stopped working due to delayed payments, according to him. Yet, Zoomlion continues invoicing the state, exploiting weak oversight systems.

Manasseh expressed disappointment that the Committee seems biased before completing its investigations. “You say you’re still researching but are already passing judgment,” he said.

He urged them to avoid being mouthpieces for Zoomlion and Jospong Group. The journalist reminded the Committee that previous investigations yielded no results, including a 2021 directive from Speaker Alban Bagbin.

“This is not against any individual or company,” he concluded. “It’s about fairness and value for money in public funds.”