Ghanaian investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has publicly urged authorities to completely terminate what he calls “a controversial market-sweeping contract” involving sanitation giant Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
In an open letter addressed to Malik Basintale, Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Manasseh took to Twitter (now X) to express his appreciation for the reassurances that the current contract would not be renewed. He however insisted that merely reviewing or reworking the agreement will be insufficient. He therefore called for a total discontinuation of that contract.
According to Manasseh, assemblies across the country, including major ones like the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), have long struggled to supervise sweepers managed by Zoomlion under the Youth Employment Agency’s arrangements. He cited that some assemblies have already resorted to hiring and directly managing their own sweepers.
Manasseh argued that the current system, which inserts a private company between the assemblies and the sweepers, fosters corruption and inefficiency. He referred to findings in the 2013 GYEEDA report, commissioned by former President John Mahama, as further evidence of systemic malpractice.
While Zoomlion also holds contracts for refuse collection, Manasseh suggested that assemblies could independently award such contracts without involving the management of sweepers.
His call has sparked mixed reactions among Ghanaians online especially X. Some commenters questioned whether local assemblies have the capacity and resources to fully manage sanitation operations, citing the need for vehicles and tools. Others expressed concern that dissolving the arrangement could harm one of Ghana’s prominent indigenous companies. However, a significant portion of responses supported Manasseh’s stance, citing worker dissatisfaction and alleged poor remuneration.
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