In recent times, Zoomlion Ghana, a subsidiary of Jospong Group of companies, has come under intense pressure from some sections of the Ghanaian public.
Nonetheless, it looks as though it is not going to end anytime soon. According to the Municipal Chief Executive for the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, Roland Atanga Ayoo, the waste management company owes sweepers over 16 months of pay.
In an exclusive interview with the Vaultz News, the Municipal Chief Executive, noted that the incident has demotivated and demoralised sweepers from staying committed to tidying up the municipality.
While per the expired Sanitation Improvement Programme (SIP) contract between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and waste management giant Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Zoomlion is paid GHS. 850.00 for each sweeper.
However, recent revelations of the contract document have shown that the sweepers are paid a paltry Ghs. 250.00.
The revelation by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has raised an uproar amongst Ghanaians, with many calling for an immediate overhaul of the current arrangement.
Many have, in recent times, called on the ruling National Democratic Congress administration not to renew the company’s contract with Metropolitan and Municipal District Assemblies.
A Widow’s Account
Reacting to the troubling development in the Bolgantanga Municipal of the Upper East Region, a widow and a mother of four children, Aganamah expressed her disappointment over the unpaid arrears.
According to her, she has refused advice to quit the job due to her unwavering commitment to keeping the environment clean and tidy.
“If I am going to look at how much they are paying me, then I won’t do any sweeping again because what the MCE said is true. I don’t even remember the last time they paid me my salary. I love to see the environment clean. I used to work with some other women, but they are no longer coming to work”.
Aganamah, a Widow in the Bolgatanga Municipal
While expressing disappointment over the unpaid arrears, the poor widow, nonetheless, expressed optimism in the authorities to pay her.
“My colleagues call me a workaholic because they keep asking me what I am doing there when they are not paying me any salary. It is difficult for me, but I believe they will one day pay”.
Aganamah, a Widow in the Bolgatanga Municipal
According to her, she survives on the benevolence of passers-by and compassionate individuals who are convinced to want to give, in addition to some extended family members who sympathise with her situation and are willing to lend a helping hand of help to her.
She explained that she is virtually surviving on debts from the money she has borrowed from people, and she sometimes had to play hide-and-seek when creditors confronted her about their funds
Aganamah is only one of the many widowed women who is keeping the market, street and lorry station of Bolgantanga municipal clean without receiving payment for the past sixteen months.
She says she will consider quitting the job when she is paid her outstanding 16-month allowances.
Assembly to Meet Zoomlion
In response, the Municipal Chief Executive for the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, Roland Atanga Ayoo, explained that the Assembly will be meeting with Zoomlion to understand why they owe vulnerable women like Aganamah and her colleagues in the municipality.
“We will be meeting Zoomlion to find out why they have not paid them yet for this whole time. 16 months is a long time, and something should have been done about it”.
Municipal Chief Executive for the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, Roland Atanga Ayoo
According to him, the situation appears daisy because of the fact that, they [the sweepers] are not employed directly under the Municipal Assembly, so it becomes a bit complex to understand the current situation.
That notwithstanding, he is poised to engage Zoomlion Ghana to see a way forward for the Sweepers and sanitation in the Municipality in general.
“They were employed under the previous government, and they have not paid them yet. So, we are looking at engaging Zoomlion later in the week to see what they are doing in that regard”.
Municipal Chief Executive for the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, Roland Atanga Ayoo
Having said that, the MCE noted it is high time residents of the municipality took matters of sanitation into their own hands and avoided the over-reliance on Sweepers of Zoomlion to come and do it for them.
He further admonished inhabitants of the municipality to revisit the days of communalism, where it used to be a lifestyle for owners and tenants of households who used to organise cleanup exercises in their respective communities.
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