The government has pledged to recover any unauthorised payments made to Zoomlion Ghana Limited following the non-renewal of its long-standing contract with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).
This commitment to financial accountability was conveyed in a letter dated June 11, 2025, signed by Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, in response to a petition by investigative journalist Manasseh Awuni Azure.
“All payments made to Zoomlion after the contract’s expiration will be thoroughly audited. No further payments will be authorised without proper verification, and any unauthorised payments will be recovered,” the letter stated.
The directive signals a renewed determination by the Presidency to scrutinise past financial dealings and reclaim funds disbursed without proper justification.
The contract between YEA and Zoomlion has officially expired and, according to the Presidency, “will not be renewed.” This decision comes after years of public scrutiny and debate, intensified by Mr Azure’s petition dated April 27, 2025, which raised serious concerns over the contract’s continuation and financial prudence.
Mr Azure’s investigative work has consistently exposed alleged financial irregularities in public contracts, including the YEA-Zoomlion arrangement.
In addition to its pledge to recover unauthorised funds, the government has announced a comprehensive overhaul of how sanitation contracts are awarded. Moving forward, all sanitation service procurements will be subjected to a competitive tendering process. This shift aims to replace the current single national contractor model with a decentralised approach involving regional and district-based tenders for private firms.
As part of efforts to improve welfare in the sanitation sector, the government also plans to increase wages for sanitation sweepers to a more liveable income—addressing a long-standing concern about poor remuneration for frontline workers.
The letter further indicates that all fumigation contracts will be reviewed. Contracts “that have not been performed satisfactorily will be reviewed and, where appropriate, terminated in accordance with their terms and upon the advice of the Attorney-General,” it noted.
The government’s decision to end the controversial contract and recover unauthorised payments reflects a renewed commitment to transparency, efficiency, and strong public financial management in response to sustained calls for accountability.