Parliament’s NDC Caucus distances itself from Zoomlion contract debate

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Caucus has made a clear statement. They have not authorized any interference in the review of the sanitation module contract. This contract is between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader, issued this statement. He clarified that neither the Sanitation Committee nor its members can influence YEA’s decisions on this contract.

“The Chairman of the Committee reported to me that, contrary to media reports, no member has attempted to interfere,” the statement said.

The caucus emphasized that any public comments from committee members supporting Zoomlion should be ignored. These comments do not represent the official stance of the committee or Parliament.

Additionally, the NDC Caucus warned Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). They should resist pressure from any authority to enter into sanitation agreements with specific companies.

“In the last session of Parliament, President John Dramani Mahama directed that 80% of the Common Fund go directly to Assemblies,” they stated. “Thus, Assemblies are independent in deciding their development priorities.”

This clarification comes amid public outcry over the YEA-Zoomlion contract. Critics like investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni have called it exploitative. There is increasing pressure on YEA to end this arrangement and let local assemblies manage sanitation workers directly.