Manasseh Azure Awuni, an award-winning investigative journalist, has strongly rebuked the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation, accusing its members of supporting a contract that he claims is incredibly exploitative and unwarranted between the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and the sanitation behemoth Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
In a strongly worded open letter to Hon. John Oti Bless, the chair of the Committee, Manasseh disputed recent remarks he said were made by the committee, downplaying his demand that the contract that permits Zoomlion to keep GH₵600 out of GH₵850 per sanitation worker per month be terminated, leaving only GH₵250 as the workers’ actual pay.
The seasoned investigative journalist, who is well-known for exposing corruption and misappropriation of public funds, denied claims that ending the contract would lead to job losses.
“It is false, as you said in the interview, that cancelling the contract will result in job losses. Nobody will lose their jobs. The people are paid by the state, so they will just report to their district assemblies instead of Zoomlion. In this case, they will earn more money if the middleman (Zoomlion) is eliminated.”
Manasseh Azure Awuni
Manasseh urged the committee to stop repeating myths that defend exploitation in the name of job creation and instead concentrate on the facts.
Drawing comparisons to the betrayal of fellow Ghanaians during the transatlantic slave trade, he described the committee’s presentation of the agreement as one that supports a Ghanaian-owned company as deceptive.
“It is a fact that the majority of the Ghanaians who were sold into slavery were captured by their fellow Ghanaians and sold to the white man. We started this wickedness not today.
“If Zoomlion’s owner is a Ghanaian, the thousands of poor people being cheated are not from Afghanistan. Even if they were Afghans, they would still be human beings and deserve to be treated with dignity.”
Manasseh Azure Awuni
Manasseh explained that he exclusively wears African prints and has long supported Ghanaian companies and made-in-Ghana goods.
He did not, however, agree that patriotism should justify unethical or dishonest business practices.
Zoomlion’s Substantial Profit
While thousands of sanitation workers struggle to make ends meet, Zoomlion benefits from a substantial monthly profit—an estimated GH₵20 million—from the contentious contract, which has been under close scrutiny for more than ten years.
Manasseh claims that despite the fact that the company continues to bill the state as though services are being provided consistently, many of the employees have stopped coming to work because of the low pay and protracted salary payment delays.
Additionally, he charged that the YEA lacked procedures to confirm the precise number of employees in operation prior to paying Zoomlion.
“When Justin Frimpong Kodua asked Zoomlion in 2018 to produce the payroll, the company failed to do it and they moved on as usual. Sometimes, our leaders make us look like idiots in this country.”
Manasseh Azure Awuni, Ace Investigative Journalist
Manasseh also criticized Zoomlion CEO Joseph Siaw Agyepong’s explanation, claiming that the workers’ compensation was reasonable given that they only put in three to four hours a day.
Manasseh called the argument “senseless” and asked committee members to inform the CEO about the legal significance and ramifications of Ghana’s minimum wage regulations.
“You should also have asked him whether it makes sense to charge 600 cedis to manage 250 cedis worth of work”.
Manasseh Azure Awuni
The seasoned journalist expressed disappointment that parliamentary attempts to look into the issue have kept coming to a standstill despite years of advocacy.
He recalled how, in 2021, a motion made by members of parliament, including Hon. Haruna Iddrisu and Dr. Kwabena Donkor, prompted Speaker Alban Bagbin to order an investigation, which ultimately yielded no concrete findings.
Manasseh chastised the Sanitation Committee for defending the agreement before finishing its fieldwork.
“You have stated in the story that your committee is still conducting your field research and you will invite me. Even before you conclude, you’re already passing your verdict on the Zoomlion deal”.
Manasseh Azure Awuni, Ace Investigative Journalist
Instead of turning into another political body swayed by corporate influence, he urged the committee to act independently and in the public interest.
“I only hope you will do a good job and not continue to be mouthpieces of Zoomlion and the Jospong Group, as many parliamentary committees and MPs have done in the past.”
Manasseh Azure Awuni, Ace Investigative Journalist
Manasseh’s comments highlight the importance of accountability, value for money, and transparency in public-private partnerships, especially in areas that directly affect vulnerable populations.
It is his expectation that the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation will follow through on his reform proposal or keep up its defence of the troubled contract.
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