Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Kofi Agyepong, has firmly stated that Zoomlion Ghana Limited did not hold any active sanitation module contract with the agency at the time of his exit in January 2025.
This clarification comes in response to recent remarks by the current YEA CEO, Malik Basintale, who described the agency’s past sanitation contract with Zoomlion as “exploitative and unjustifiable.”
In a statement titled “Setting the Records Straight – YEA Sanitation Module,” Agyepong emphasized that no contract renewal had been finalized before his departure on January 25, 2025, insisting that the module required a complete restructuring.
Agyepong argued that the existing arrangement was redundant, as its functions overlapped with those of local assemblies.
“We can’t be doing something that the assemblies are already doing,” he stated, adding that his position was documented in board meeting minutes and official records.
He also stressed that his decision was based on principles rather than politics, highlighting the need for better working conditions for beneficiaries and efficient use of public funds.
The former CEO commended Basintale for taking a bold stance against the controversial contract and called for a national dialogue on reforming the sanitation module.
“What we need now is not blame, but bold action—guided by facts, respect for the workers, and a firm commitment to value for money,” Agyepong asserted.
The YEA’s sanitation partnership with Zoomlion has long faced criticism, with civil society activists, including investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, accusing it of shortchanging workers while benefiting the contractor.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
