Parliament’s sanitation committee urges swift payment of GH₵1.3b debt owed to Zoomlion

The Parliamentary Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources has called on the government to expedite the payment of over GH₵1.3 billion owed to Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

The debt, which has been pending for some time, is critical to ensuring the continued functioning of the company and the country’s waste management efforts.

During a recent visit to the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant in the Ashanti Region, the committee warned that the delay in payment is not only undermining sanitation efforts but has also led to significant salary arrears owed to Zoomlion’s employees across the country.

The committee expressed concern about the growing debt and its ripple effect on the services provided by Zoomlion.

Speaking to the press, the committee chairman, John Oti Bless, appealed to the government to support the maintenance of the plant and expedite the payment of the GH₵1.3 billion owed to Zoomlion, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies.

He stressed the urgency of the situation, as the company’s financial struggles are beginning to impact its ability to maintain its facilities and pay workers on time.

“We have trust and confidence in the government,” Mr Bless stated.

“The current budget, which was presented a month ago by our Member of Parliament, allocates approximately GH₵13 billion to clear arrears, and Zoomlion’s debt is part of this. Around GH₵1.2 billion is earmarked to be paid by the government to Zoomlion,” he added.

Mr Bless continued, “We believe that Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson is committed to clearing all debts owed to Zoomlion. He assured us of this during the last committee meeting on sanitation, and we are hopeful that the promise will be fulfilled.”

Before departing Accra, Mr Bless addressed concerns with the Chief Executive of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) about unpaid wages for YEA employees at various district assemblies.

The YEA CEO assured him that the issue would be addressed and that efforts would be made to ensure the prompt payment of the money owed to Zoomlion.

“Jospong is a Ghanaian company,” Mr Bless noted. “If there are issues, it is our responsibility as leaders to address them. As a committee, we are planning to invite Manasseh Azure Awuni to appear before us to share any relevant information regarding this matter. Parliament will resume on the 12th of next month, and we plan to invite him then.”

Mr Bless also warned that if the contract with Zoomlion is not renewed, thousands of Ghanaians could lose their jobs.

The committee stressed the importance of resolving the debt issue promptly, as the potential loss of jobs would have a significant impact on the livelihoods of many Ghanaians.

Business Development Manager at the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant, Eugene Ohene Asamoah, added that the plant is “future-ready” to handle an increasing amount of waste as it continues to expand its capacity.

“The plant is equipped to process more waste as it grows,” highlighting the facility’s potential to meet the country’s growing waste management needs.