Zoomlion Ghana Limited has moved to clarify public concerns and media reports regarding the status of its partnership with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), emphasizing that its contract simply reached its natural end and was not terminated or cancelled by government directive.
In a statement issued following the circulation of a June 11 letter from the Office of the President, Zoomlion addressed widespread speculation, noting;
“The YEA contract mentioned in the circulating letter related solely to the street sweeping programme, the contract has therefore reached its natural conclusion and expired.”
Originally slated to end in March 2024, the contract was extended for six months, expiring in September 2024. The company stressed that the expiration affects only that specific contract, and does not impact its other engagements under the broader YEA sanitation module.
Competitive Procurement Welcomed
Zoomlion says it embraces the government’s intention to strengthen transparency through competitive procurement for future sanitation contracts, asserting readiness to compete.
“We wish to affirm that the recently expired YEA contract was competitively procured in 2019. We are well prepared and eager to actively participate in any forthcoming competitive procurement processes.”
The firm highlighted its national footprint, technical expertise, and nearly two-decade experience as key strengths that position it to continue delivering essential sanitation services across Ghana.
Protecting Sanitation Workers’ Livelihoods
Zoomlion lauded the government’s goal to improve pay for sanitation workers under upcoming reforms, aligning with its own corporate values.
“Zoomlion remains deeply committed to ensuring dignified and sustainable livelihoods for sanitation workers across the country,” the statement read.
In a move to foster public trust and institutional credibility, Zoomlion also welcomed the Presidency’s call for audits and verification of past payments under the YEA contract. “As a responsible corporate entity, transparency, integrity, and delivering value for money are core to our operations,” the company said.
President Mahama last week announced that the long-standing contract between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited will not be renewed. The 19-year-old deal, which had been criticized for corruption and inefficiency, officially came to an end, thanks in part to a petition filed by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni.
