Waste management company Zoomlion Ghana Limited has responded to recent media reports and social media discussions regarding its long-standing contract with the Youth Employment Authority (YEA), providing clarity on the terms, scope, and impact of the agreement under the Youth in Sanitation Module.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the company confirmed that its partnership with the government dates back to 2006, when it signed a contract with the then Ministry of Youth and Sports under the National Youth Employment Programme (now YEA).

The agreement tasked Zoomlion with managing and supervising youth beneficiaries engaged in public cleaning across the country, while recruitment remained the responsibility of the YEA.

According to the company, the contract provides for a total payment of GHS 850 per beneficiary.

Of this amount, GHS 258 is allocated as a monthly allowance to the beneficiaries, and GHS 592 is designated as a management fee.

This covers the cost of logistics, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), training, deployment, supervision, and administrative services.

Zoomlion emphasised that it has consistently advocated for an increase in beneficiary allowances and reiterated its commitment to the welfare of the youth involved in the programme.

The company also clarified that it is contractually required to pre-finance payments to beneficiaries and is reimbursed quarterly by the government.

However, it noted that significant delays in reimbursements, in some cases stretching beyond a year, have necessitated calls for interest payments to cushion the financial strain.

Since 2008, Zoomlion said it has submitted quarterly and annual reports to the YEA in line with contractual requirements.

Zoomlion outlined the scope of its operations, which include the training, deployment, and monitoring of sanitation workers across the country.

It has also supplied the necessary tools and equipment to support effective sanitation delivery.

The company highlighted its broader impact, including the establishment of 36 waste treatment facilities — 18 of which are material recovery and waste treatment plants — and the creation of thousands of jobs.

This includes over 6,000 core staff, 30,000 tricycle operators, and more than 200,000 indirect jobs along the sanitation value chain.

Despite the delayed reimbursements, Zoomlion stated that it continues to operate without payment for over a year, driven by a commitment to national sanitation and public service.

The company expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama and his government for prioritising environmental sanitation, and extended thanks to Ghanaians for their continued support.

“Zoomlion remains committed to improving lives and livelihoods, empowering the youth, and ensuring a clean, green, and healthy environment for all,” the statement concluded.

For further information or clarification, the company directed the public to contact [email protected].