Manasseh Azure warns YEA CEO against renewing ‘exploitative’ Zoomlion contract

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has made a public appeal. He urged Malik Basintale, the new CEO of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), not to renew a contract with Zoomlion Ghana Limited. Awuni describes this contract as fraudulent and exploitative.

On April 23, 2025, Awuni shared his concerns about sanitation workers. The now-expired contract paid 850 Ghana cedis per month per worker. However, only 250 cedis reached the actual sweepers. The remaining 600 cedis went to Zoomlion as management fees. Awuni called this deal "obscene" and "criminal."

He reminded Basintale that former YEA CEO Kofi Agyepong resisted renewing the contract. Agyepong faced pressure from the board and government officials but stood firm. He informed Zoomlion in writing that the contract expired in September 2024 and should be suspended.

At present, there is no contract between YEA and Zoomlion. Awuni noted that this arrangement lacked transparency and accountability for years. He referenced a letter from Elizabeth Sackey, CEO of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA). Sackey sought clarification on how many sweepers were assigned through Zoomlion.

Internal board minutes showed that YEA could not provide this information due to missing data. Awuni pointed out that past administrations failed to verify Zoomlion's claim of managing 45,000 sweepers nationwide. In 2018, then-YEA CEO Justin Kodua Frimpong announced plans to cancel the contract after a headcount revealed fewer sweepers than claimed.

Despite these findings, payments continued without verifying beneficiaries' identities. Awuni also highlighted poor working conditions for sweepers. They receive only 250 cedis monthly and lack basic benefits like transportation or health insurance.

Many have gone unpaid for over a year, forcing some to leave their jobs. Yet government payments to Zoomlion continued based on unverifiable figures.

Awuni appealed to Basintale and young NDC politicians like Osman Abdulai Ayariga and Eric Edem Agbana. He stressed acting in the interest of Ghanaian youth and protecting public resources from exploitation.

He argued that local assemblies have qualified staff who can supervise sanitation workers directly without outsourcing to Zoomlion under unfavorable terms.

Awuni clarified that his concerns are not personal against Joseph Siaw-Agyepong, CEO of Zoomlion. Instead, he wants sanitation workers treated with dignity and fairness.

He warned that renewing the contract would make the current administration complicit in a financial scandal. Awuni called on President John Dramani Mahama to ensure such contracts are not renewed.

He reminded the President and his appointees that their credibility and legacy are at stake.