In response to a petition filed by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, the Office of the President has formally stated that the Youth Employment Agency’s (YEA) agreement with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a trash management company, has ended and will not be extended.
The Jubilee House accepted the issues brought up in Azure’s petition from April 27 and listed a number of government actions resulting from the review in a letter dated June 11, 2025, signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama.
Contract Expired – No Renewal
“The contract between Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited (‘Zoomlion’) has expired and will not be renewed,” the statement read.
This represents a substantial change in a long-standing agreement that has been the subject of years of public scrutiny on performance, transparency, and value for money.
Audit and Accountability Measures
The Presidency also disclosed that a comprehensive audit will be conducted on all payments made to Zoomlion when the contract expires. Any unauthorized disbursements will be reclaimed, and no more payments will be made without proof.
Shift to Competitive Tendering
As part of a reform initiative, Cabinet has mandated that competitive procurement procedures be used for future sanitation contracts. Regional and district-based tenders will now be promoted instead of a single national contract.
“This could reduce costs through competitive pricing and stimulate innovation, as companies compete on service quality to secure contracts,” the statement noted.
The new structure for contracts will be designed by a Cabinet subcommittee.
Improved Sweeper Conditions
In order to provide a more livable wage for sanitation workers, popularly known as “sweepers,” the government also announced intentions to raise fees. This might potentially involve reallocating savings from the reorganization of sanitation contracts.
Under Review: Fumigation Contracts
On the Attorney-General’s recommendation, existing fumigation contracts will also be evaluated for performance and any that don’t meet acceptable criteria would be terminated.
Background
Concerns over transparency, cost-effectiveness, and oversight have been raised by critics of the YEA-Zoomlion contract, notably Manasseh Azure, for years. His petition rekindled public discussion about the responsibility of service contracts approved by the state.
The Presidency’s answer makes it apparent that it intends to improve monitoring of public-private contracts and modify the way sanitation services are delivered, with a focus on cost effectiveness, decentralization, and openness.
