Zoomlion Clarifies YEA Contract Expiry, Reaffirms Commitment to Sanitation Excellence

Zoomlion Ghana Limited has officially addressed public concerns and media speculation regarding its contract with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), particularly the Street Sweeping Programme under the Youth in Sanitation module.

In a statement responding to a widely circulated letter dated June 11, 2025, Zoomlion clarified that the contract ended as scheduled and was not terminated or cancelled. Originally set to conclude in March 2024, the agreement was extended until September 2024 through a normal contractual process.

“We’ve partnered with successive governments for over 19 years under this sanitation module, and our commitment to national sanitation and public health goals remains resolute,” a spokesperson from Zoomlion’s Communications Directorate emphasized.

The company expressed full support for the government’s decision to initiate a competitive tender process for future sanitation contracts. It noted that the now-concluded YEA contract itself was awarded through competitive bidding in 2019. Zoomlion affirmed its readiness to participate in the new process, citing its extensive experience, nationwide operations, and continuous innovation in waste management.

Zoomlion also welcomed ongoing accountability efforts, including government audits of claims and payments related to the YEA programme. The company reiterated its cooperation with the Auditor-General and other oversight institutions, underscoring its commitment to transparency and ethical operations.

“Integrity is at the core of everything we do. We fully back all initiatives aimed at strengthening accountability within the sanitation sector,” the statement read.

The company praised recent moves by the government to improve compensation for street sweepers and frontline sanitation workers—an initiative Zoomlion has long championed. It pledged continued efforts to promote fair and sustainable employment across the sector.

Zoomlion’s leadership in sanitation services has attracted the interest of 24 African countries, many of which are engaging with the company through memorandums of understanding and full-scale concession partnerships inspired by its two decades of success in public-private collaboration.

With 36 waste treatment facilities across Ghana—including 18 focused on material recovery and composting—Zoomlion remains the continent’s most expansive and integrated sanitation company.