Alexander Afriyie
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to discontinue the 19-year contract between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited. The contract, which expired in September 2024, has been criticized for its alleged corrupt practices and unfair treatment of sweepers.
According to Awuni, the contract allows Zoomlion to keep GHS600 of the GHS850 allocated to each sweeper, leaving them with a meager GHS250 per month. The company also charges interest if the YEA delays payment, with Awuni citing a GHS90 million interest charge in 2024.
Awuni has proposed that the contract be discontinued, allowing the assemblies and YEA to supervise the sweepers directly. This, he argues, would enable the assemblies to have control over the sweepers and pay them better wages using the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
Zoomlion’s latest proposal, which is currently under discussion at the YEA, would raise the allocation per sweeper to GHS1,308, with Zoomlion taking GHS888 and the sweepers receiving GHS420 per month. However, Awuni questions the legitimacy of the contract, citing discrepancies in the number of sweepers and lack of transparency in the payment process.
The YEA has raised concerns over the contract in the past, with former CEO Kofi Baah Agyepong recommending its cancellation. Awuni’s petition comes after he submitted documentary evidence to President Mahama, who has previously taken action on similar issues in the past.
The outcome of the petition remains to be seen, but Awuni’s efforts have sparked renewed debate about the YEA-Zoomlion contract and its implications for Ghana’s development. Alexander Afriyie