The Office of the President has formally addressed a petition submitted by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, affirming that the contract between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and the waste management company Zoomlion Ghana Limited has lapsed and will not be renewed.
In a correspondence dated June 11, 2025, and signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, the Jubilee House recognized the issues raised in Azure’s petition dated April 27 and detailed several governmental decisions resulting from the review.
“The contract between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited (‘Zoomlion’) has expired and will not be renewed,” the statement indicated.
This represents a notable change in a long-standing agreement that has faced years of public examination regarding value for money, transparency, and performance.
The Presidency also disclosed that all payments made to Zoomlion following the expiration of the contract will be subject to a comprehensive audit. No additional payments will be authorized without verification, and any unauthorized payments will be reclaimed.
In a step towards reform, the Cabinet has mandated that future sanitation contracts be subjected to competitive procurement processes. Instead of a single nationwide contract, regional and district-level tenders will now be promoted.
“This could lower costs through competitive pricing and encourage innovation, as companies vie for contracts based on service quality,” the statement remarked. A Cabinet subcommittee will be tasked with developing the new contracting framework.
The government also announced intentions to raise the compensation for sanitation workers, commonly known as “sweepers,” to ensure a more sustainable income—implying a potential reallocation of savings from the restructuring of sanitation contracts.
Furthermore, the existing fumigation contracts will undergo a performance review, and those that do not meet acceptable standards will be terminated, based on the recommendations of the Attorney-General.
Background
The YEA-Zoomlion contract has been a source of controversy for several years, with critics—such as Manasseh Azure—expressing concerns regarding transparency, cost-effectiveness, and oversight. His petition has reignited public discourse on the accountability of state-sanctioned service contracts.
The response from the Presidency indicates a definitive intention to reform the delivery of sanitation services and enhance oversight of public-private contracts, focusing on transparency, decentralization, and cost efficiency.
