In a letter dated June 11, 2025, and signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, the Jubilee House acknowledged the concerns raised in Azure’s April 27 petition and outlined several government decisions stemming from the review.

Contract Expired – No Renewal

“The contract between Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Zoomlion Ghana Limited (‘Zoomlion’) has expired and will not be renewed,” the statement read.

This marks a significant shift in a longstanding arrangement that has attracted years of public scrutiny over value for money, transparency, and performance.

Audit and Accountability Measures

The Presidency also revealed that all payments made to Zoomlion after the contract’s expiration will undergo a thorough audit. No further payments will be made without verification, and any unauthorised disbursements will be recovered.

Shift to Competitive Tendering

In a move towards reform, Cabinet has directed that future sanitation contracts be subjected to competitive procurement processes. Rather than one nationwide contract, regional and district-based tenders will now be encouraged.

“This could reduce costs through competitive pricing and stimulate innovation, as companies compete on service quality to secure contracts,” the statement noted.

A Cabinet subcommittee will be responsible for designing the new contracting framework.

Improved Conditions for Sweepers

The government also indicated plans to increase the fees paid to sanitation workers, often referred to as “sweepers,” to ensure a more liveable income—suggesting a possible reallocation of savings from the restructuring of sanitation contracts.

Fumigation Contracts Under Review

Additionally, fumigation contracts currently in place will be reviewed for performance, and any that fall short of acceptable standards will be terminated, following advice from the Attorney-General.

Background

The YEA-Zoomlion contract has been a point of contention for years, with critics—including Manasseh Azure—raising concerns about transparency, cost-effectiveness, and oversight. His petition reignited public debate on the accountability of state-sanctioned service contracts.

The Presidency’s response signals a clear intent to reform sanitation service delivery and tighten oversight of public-private contracts, with an emphasis on transparency, decentralisation, and cost efficiency.