Waste management company Zoomlion Ghana Limited has clarified that its contract with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) reached its natural end in September 2024 and was not cancelled or terminated by the government, as some media reports have suggested.
In a statement issued in response to a June 11, 2025 letter from the Office of the President, Zoomlion said the contract related to the Street Sweeping Programme expired after a six-month extension beyond its original March 2024 end date.
“The contract has therefore reached its natural conclusion and expired,” the company said. “Contrary to claims in some media reports, this expiration does not constitute a termination or cancellation of the agreement by the government, and that is not what the Office of the President stated.”
The Presidency’s letter, issued following a petition by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, confirmed that the contract would not be renewed and that future sanitation contracts would be awarded through competitive tendering.
The letter also outlined plans to audit all post-expiration payments to Zoomlion and improve conditions for sanitation workers.
Zoomlion welcomed the government’s push for accountability and procurement reform.
“Zoomlion Ghana Limited fully supports and welcomes this approach,” the company stated.
It added that the expired YEA contract itself was competitively procured in 2019 and that the company is prepared to bid for upcoming contracts under the new system.
“We are well prepared and eager to actively participate in any forthcoming competitive procurement processes.”
On the matter of accountability, the company said it endorses the Presidency’s decision to audit all payments made after the contract’s expiry.
“As a responsible corporate entity, transparency, integrity, and delivering value for money are core to our operations,” Zoomlion stated.
It also reiterated its commitment to sanitation workers, supporting the government’s intent to improve their pay.
“Zoomlion remains deeply committed to ensuring dignified and sustainable livelihoods for sanitation workers across the country.”
The company further clarified that the Presidency’s letter does not impact any of its other contracts or operations with YEA or other government agencies.
Zoomlion also noted that its model is gaining interest beyond Ghana. “Our success and impact in Ghana’s sanitation sector have attracted significant interest from 24 other African nations,” the statement said, referencing ongoing agreements and feasibility studies with countries looking to replicate Zoomlion’s model.
Zoomlion concluded by reaffirming its support for the government’s “RESET” agenda and its ongoing commitment to national development.
“Our shared goal remains to build a cleaner, greener, and more resilient Ghana for the benefit of all citizens,” the company said.
