Calls for the Youth Employment Authority (YEA) not to renew its contract with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies has been opposed by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation.
This comes after renowned investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, called on the YEA to terminate the contract, accusing Zoomlion of underpaying its workers and giving them no work benefits. He also accused Zoomlion of short changing the government by claiming it has 45,000 persons working as sweepers as part of the contract when the numbers are far less.
The YEA has a contract with Zoomlion (since 2006), which states that Zoomlion should manage the cleaners and sweepers of all the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) in Ghana. The contract says the YEA and the MMDAs should employ the cleaners and give them to Zoomlion to manage. Per the last contract, Zoomlion is paid 850 cedis per cleaner, but the contract says Zoomlion should pay each cleaner 250 cedis and keep 600 cedis as fees.
However, the Chairman of Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation, and Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North, John Kwabena Bless Oti, disagreed with calls for the cancellation of the contract.
During a visit to the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant of Zoomlion in the Ashanti Region on Thursday, April 24, the MP who did not agree with Manasseh’s assertion decided to give him the benefit of doubt by inviting him before the Committee to present his concerns formally.
John Bless Oti warned of untold repercussions the nation would face should the contract be terminated.
As a proactive measure, he proposed the creation of a dedicated fund to support sustainable sanitation and waste management efforts across the country.
Mr. Oti also assured that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is committed to paying arrears owed to YEA workers and the Jospong Group to enhance the effective delivery of their services.
“Any amount owed Zoomlion, we have trust that it wil be paid, the budget that was presented has about GH13 billion to clear arrears, which Zoomlion is a part of. I think I disagree with him [Manasseh Azure].
“Jospong is a Ghanaian; if there are issues, we have to address them; that is why we have leaders. 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,” he said.
The Ranking Member of the Committee and Member of Parliament for Achiase, Kofi Ahenkorah Marfo, backed the Chairman’s remarks.
He reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to facilitating the establishment of a sanitation fund and ensuring accountability in its management.
