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The Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation has pushed back against calls to terminate the Youth Employment Authority’s (YEA) contract with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies.
This follows recent criticism by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, who urged the YEA not to renew the agreement, alleging that Zoomlion was shortchanging workers under the sanitation employment model and not adhering to contract terms.
However, Chairman of the Committee and Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North, John Kwabena Bless Oti, has rejected these claims. During a visit to the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant in the Ashanti Region on Thursday, April 24, Mr. Oti said he does not share Manasseh Azure’s perspective but welcomed a formal engagement on the matter.
“We want to invite Manasseh Azure to appear before the committee, maybe when Parliament resumes, for him to share his information. Thousands of Ghanaians will lose their jobs if this contract is not renewed,” Mr. Oti stated.
He added that terminating the contract could result in significant job losses, given that Zoomlion employs a large number of Ghanaians across the country. As a long-term solution, he recommended the establishment of a sanitation fund to support sustainable waste management efforts.
Addressing concerns over outstanding payments, Mr. Oti assured that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is committed to settling debts owed to Zoomlion and YEA workers.
“Any amount owed Zoomlion, we have trust that it will be paid. The budget that was presented has about GH¢13 billion to clear arrears, which Zoomlion is a part of. I think I disagree with him [Manasseh Azure],” he said.
“Jospong is a Ghanaian; if there are issues, we have to address them; that is why we have leaders,” Mr. Oti added.
The Ranking Member of the Committee and MP for Achiase, Kofi Ahenkorah Marfo, echoed the Chairman’s sentiments. He reaffirmed the Committee’s intention to push for the creation of a sanitation fund and to ensure transparency in its use.
The Committee also lauded the Jospong Group for its contributions to employment creation, waste management, and recycling, which they say are vital to improving Ghana’s sanitation landscape.
Speaking during the visit, Eugene Amo Asamoah, Business Development Manager at the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant, stressed the financial burden of waste management operations. He revealed that although Ghana generates over one million tonnes of plastic waste each year, only 2% to 5% is collected and recycled.
Mr. Asamoah also disclosed that the government owes the company four years of arrears out of its five years of operation and called for urgent action.
“We need government support and timely payments to expand operations and improve sanitation in Ghana,” he said, emphasizing the critical role of funding in enhancing environmental sustainability.
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