No need to panic over Zoomlion-YEA controversy – Parliament’s Environment Committee Chair

Yaw Frimpong Addo, Chairman of Parliament's Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology, has called for calm. This follows recent issues regarding the Youth Employment Agency's (YEA) sanitation partnership with Zoomlion Ghana Limited. He believes the controversy will not affect the country's environmental sanitation efforts.

His comments came after YEA Chief Executive Malik Basintale announced that their contract with Zoomlion would not be renewed in its current form. Frimpong Addo stated that public information is inconsistent with reality. He emphasized the need for urgent stakeholder engagement to clarify the situation.

He spoke after touring waste treatment plants operated by the Jospong Group in four regions. "Some news items claiming to come from YEA are not entirely true," he said. He urged people not to panic, as it won't impact environmental sanitation work.

Frimpong Addo noted that issues related to YEA fall under Parliament's jurisdiction. The Committee will prioritize these matters in their report after assessing waste management firsthand. "If allocations need review, we will discuss them in our report," he added.

He reassured that concerns about potential layoffs affecting 40,000 workers should not cause panic. "This issue is within Parliament's domain," he reiterated.

As MP for Manso Adubia, Frimpong Addo stressed government-private sector collaboration in waste management challenges. "We must cooperate with private entities to address these issues," he said.

The Committee toured several facilities including the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant and wastewater treatment plants in Ashanti Region. They also visited Integrated Recycling and Compost Plants in Western North, Bono, and Ahafo regions.