- Unauthorised post-contract payments to Zoomlion will be audited and recovered
- Reforms to end sole-source contracts and adopt open tendering at regional levels
- Government signals stronger commitment to financial transparency and service efficiency
The government has vowed to recover any unauthorised payments made to Zoomlion Ghana Limited after the expiration of its long-standing contract with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).
This assurance was detailed 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 ended will be audited. No further disbursements will be approved without proper verification, and any unauthorised payments will be recovered,” the letter stated.
Manasseh Azure’s investigative work has consistently exposed financial irregularities in public sector contracts, including issues related to the YEA-Zoomlion partnership.
In addition to the pledge to recover funds, the government announced a major reform in sanitation procurement, replacing the sole-source national contractor model with a competitive, decentralised tender process. This new approach will allow regional and district-based private firms to bid for sanitation contracts.
To improve conditions in the sector, the government also plans to increase wages for sanitation sweepers, aiming to provide them with a more sustainable income.
The letter also confirmed that all fumigation contracts would undergo review, with the possibility of termination for underperforming agreements. Such decisions will be guided by legal advice from the Attorney-General.
Ending the controversial contract with Zoomlion and committing to audit and reform reflect the government’s renewed focus on transparency, fiscal responsibility, and accountability in public service delivery.
