By Issah Olegor
Waste management giant, Zoomlion Ghana Limited has responded to growing public speculation and media reports regarding its contractual relationship with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), particularly following a June 11, 2025 letter from the Office of the President.
The company has sought to dispel misconceptions about the status of its Street Sweeping Programme and to reinforce its dedication to transparency, competitive procurement, and Ghana’s sanitation goals.
According to Zoomlion, the contract in question—focused specifically on the YEA’s Street Sweeping Programme—reached its natural expiration in September 2024.
Originally scheduled to end in March 2024, the contract was extended for six months, culminating in its expiration last year.
The company emphasized that contrary to claims circulating in some media outlets, the government did not terminate the contract.
Rather, the arrangement concluded as scheduled, and the Presidential letter did not announce the cancellation of any broader agreements with YEA.
Zoomlion has been a longstanding partner of the Ghanaian government on sanitation-related initiatives, working across political administrations for more than 19 years.
The firm has played a central role in implementing sanitation modules under the YEA programme, employing thousands of sweepers and frontline workers tasked with cleaning streets and public spaces across the country.
Amid government plans to introduce competitive procurement for future sanitation contracts, Zoomlion has welcomed the move.
The company noted that its now-expired contract had been awarded through a competitive process in 2019 and expressed readiness to participate in upcoming bids.
Management underscored its national operational capacity, technical expertise, and record of innovation as critical assets that position it favorably for future partnerships.
In a related development, the government has announced its intention to improve compensation for sanitation workers—an initiative Zoomlion has also publicly endorsed.
The company highlighted the vital contribution of its sweepers and the need to protect the livelihoods of the thousands who rely on sanitation jobs for daily income and sustenance.
Zoomlion also expressed full support for an audit and verification exercise directed by the Presidency concerning the expired YEA contract.
It stated that as a responsible corporate entity, it embraces transparency and accountability as central to its values and is cooperating fully with all directives.
Beyond Ghana, the company reported increasing interest in its sanitation model from over two dozen African nations.
Countries across the continent are engaging with Zoomlion through concession agreements, feasibility studies, and memoranda of understanding, aiming to replicate Ghana’s waste management blueprint in their own jurisdictions.
The company sees this development as a strong endorsement of Ghana’s leadership in environmental sustainability and innovation.
Zoomlion’s statement aligns its future with President John Dramani Mahama’s “RESET” development agenda, which focuses on rebuilding, equity, sustainability, empowerment, and transformation.
The firm reiterated its commitment to collaborating with the government and all stakeholders to create a cleaner, greener, and more resilient Ghana.
The company concluded by reaffirming its mission to contribute to national development through improved sanitation, job creation, and high service standards that benefit both citizens and the environment.
