Zoomlion Ghana Limited has officially responded to recent public criticisms regarding its contractual relationship with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), describing the allegations made by YEA CEO Malik Basintale as misleading and lacking full context.
In a detailed press statement dated April 30, 2025, the sanitation giant clarified the terms of its long-standing partnership with YEA, which began in 2006 under the then Ministry of Youth and Sports through the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP). The contract focuses on the management of youth engaged in public sanitation work across the country.
Basintale, in a previous public statement, had described the contract as “evil,” citing the disparity between the GH¢850 monthly payment per sanitation worker and the GH¢258 allowance paid directly to them, while Zoomlion retains GH¢592 as a management fee. The YEA boss vowed to terminate the arrangement under his leadership, calling the structure exploitative.
However, Zoomlion insists that the management fee is justified. “The GH¢592 covers a comprehensive list of services and logistics including uniforms, boots, cleaning tools, deployment, supervision, training, and welfare,” the company stated. It emphasized that YEA is solely responsible for recruiting the sanitation workers (referred to as beneficiaries), while Zoomlion manages their day-to-day operations based on data and instructions received from YEA.
In its defense, Zoomlion further disclosed that it has consistently advocated for increased allowances for beneficiaries. Since 2006, it claims to have proposed progressive increases from GH¢50 to GH¢180, and now GH¢258. A proposal to raise the allowance to GH¢420 was reportedly submitted in 2024 and is still under discussion.
Regarding accusations of delayed payments, Zoomlion said that it pre-finances the workers’ allowances and operations, often experiencing reimbursement delays from the government for several months. As such, it reserves the right under the contract to claim interest for late payments.
Beyond contractual matters, the company highlighted its contribution to Ghana’s waste management and youth employment sectors. It currently operates 36 waste treatment facilities, has created over 200,000 jobs across its sanitation value chain, and has supported academic and skills development through scholarships and international training opportunities.
Zoomlion concluded by reaffirming its commitment to transparency and welcomed any initiative aimed at enhancing efficiency. “We thank His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama and Ghanaians for their continued support and assure our commitment to a clean, green, and healthy Ghana,” the statement said.
For further clarification, Zoomlion has provided an email contact: info@jospongroup.com.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
