Journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has revealed in a recent article that his investigation revealed that Ghana lost more than GHS200 million in a series of sanitation contracts awarded to companies under the Jospong Group.

According to his detailed findings, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, on 9th June 2015, requested the release of over GHS98 million to implement a Sanitation Improvement Programme aimed at averting a cholera outbreak.

However, a review of the contracts suggests widespread irregularities and duplication of existing efforts.

Contracts Awarded Without Competitive Tender

Manasseh's investigation found that all 11 companies handpicked for the contract were subsidiaries of the Jospong Group, owned by Joseph Siaw Agyepong. Among them was Meridian Waste Management Services, which records show was not even registered at the time the contract was awarded. Official registration only occurred on 30th September 2015, three months after the contract date.

Duplication of Services

The fumigation and disinfection activities for which the funds were approved were already covered by two separate ongoing contracts awarded to Zoomlion Ghana Limited, another Jospong subsidiary, dating back to 2009 and 2010. These earlier contracts were funded through the District Assemblies Common Fund and the National Health Insurance Levy.

Despite this, a third fumigation contract was awarded, covering the same districts and assemblies already under Zoomlion’s management. Investigations revealed that assembly and sanitation officials across the country had no knowledge of the new contract’s execution.

No Evidence of Work, Yet Payments Made

When questioned, neither the Ministry nor Zoomlion could provide evidence of supervision or validation of the work. Zoomlion’s lawyers argued that the contract terms did not require supervision. The company presented black-and-white photos of fumigation exercises as proof of work, but police investigators found identical images submitted for multiple districts.

Officials interviewed across the assemblies stated they neither witnessed nor were informed of any additional sanitation activities.

Investigations Stalled, No Prosecutions

The case, dubbed "Robbing the Assemblies" in a 2017 documentary, attracted the attention of then-Attorney General Gloria Akuffo, who involved the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Despite overwhelming evidence compiled in a comprehensive police docket, including financial and photographic analysis, no prosecutions followed, and the funds were not recovered.

Manasseh, who briefed the Attorney General's Department and senior prosecutors on the findings, described the dossier as one of the most comprehensive evidence packages in a sanitation-related scandal.

Pattern of Deals

Further investigations revealed an entrenched pattern of contracts awarded to the Jospong Group across various government programmes:

Fumigation contracts paid from both the National Health Insurance Levy and the District Assemblies Common Fund. Street and market sweeping contracts awarded through the Youth Employment Agency. Separate contracts for refuse disposal after sweeping, known as the Sanitation Improvement Package (SIP). Landfill management contracts awarded to another Jospong subsidiary, Waste Landfills Management Limited. Contracts to manage Sanitation Guards (Nsaman Nsaman), further sidelining assembly authorities.

In most cases, deductions were made at source from district allocations, limiting the resources available for assemblies to conduct independent sanitation work.

Culture of Impunity

The investigation underscores a broader culture of impunity, with successive administrations allegedly collaborating with the Jospong Group despite public health risks and financial losses.

Manasseh Azure Awuni defended his reporting, stating that exposing such deals is crucial for safeguarding public funds and ensuring accountability. "Protecting local companies should not mean supporting fraud," he said.

The Jospong Group and Zoomlion Ghana Limited have denied the allegations.