President John Dramani Mahama has officially ended the long-standing contract between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a move aimed at promoting transparency and improving conditions for sanitation workers.
The announcement, made public on June 12, 2025, through manassehazure.com, followed a petition by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, who presented evidence of alleged corruption and mismanagement under the contract.
In a formal letter dated June 11, 2025, and signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, President Mahama acknowledged the issues raised and confirmed the government’s decision not to renew the contract.
“The contract between the Youth Employment Agency and Zoomlion Ghana Limited has expired and will not be renewed,” the letter stated.
Originally signed in 2006, the contract had come under increasing criticism for its financial structure. According to its terms, GH¢850 was allocated per sweeper each month, but only GH¢250 was paid to the workers, while Zoomlion retained GH¢600 as management fees. The company also charged substantial interest if the YEA delayed payments—reportedly billing GH¢90 million in interest alone in 2024.
President Mahama indicated that the discontinuation of the contract could result in “probable cost savings” for the government, which will be used to increase the wages of sanitation workers.
The letter also addressed broader concerns, including the low remuneration paid to sweepers and Zoomlion’s near-monopoly on public sanitation contracts across the country.
By terminating the agreement, the Mahama administration signals a renewed commitment to fairness, accountability, and improved working conditions for frontline sanitation staff, while also opening the door for more competitive and transparent service provision in the sector.
