The government has announced that it will not renew the sanitation module contract between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited, which expired in 2024.
In a statement issued on June 11, 2025, in response to a petition by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, the Presidency confirmed the termination of the agreement and outlined measures going forward.
“All payments made to Zoomlion after the contract’s expiration will be subjected to a comprehensive audit,” the statement read. “No additional payments will be approved without proper verification, and any unauthorised disbursements will be recovered.”
The government also revealed plans to increase the allowances paid to sanitation workers under the module, citing potential savings from the discontinued contract.
“With the anticipated cost reductions, the government aims to enhance the compensation for sweepers, providing them with more sustainable and liveable incomes,” the statement added.
Earlier, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale, has made a firm declaration not to renew the existing contract with Zoomlion Ghana Limited if the current wage of GH¢250 for sanitation workers remains unchanged.
In a strongly worded Facebook post on Friday, 25 April, 2025, Basintale criticised the current terms of engagement, describing them as exploitative and unjust to the Ghanaian youth.
But Zoomlion Ghana Limited responded to recent media reports and social media discussions regarding its long-standing contract with the YEA, clarifying its role and obligations under the Youth in Sanitation Module.#
In a statement, the waste management company noted that it signed an agreement with the then Ministry of Youth and Sports under the National Youth Employment Programme, now the YEA.
The contract, according to the statement, tasked Zoomlion with managing and supervising beneficiaries engaged in public cleaning services, while recruitment is handled by the YEA in collaboration with District Assemblies.
Zoomlion noted that it has consistently advocated for an increase in allowances paid to the beneficiaries. The company also disclosed that under the agreement, it is required to pre-finance payments to the youth workers and only receive reimbursement from the government on a quarterly basis.
