Select committee chair rejects call to end Zoomlion contract, warns of mass job losses
Oti Bless, who was highly impressed after a tour of the company, commended Zoomlion and JGC for their investment in waste disposal plant and equipment, and urged Ghanaians to support them
The chairman of the parliamentary select committee on sanitation and water resources, John Oti Bless, has rejected calls by the investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni for the government not to renew Zoomlion Ghana Ltd’s contract under the Sanitation Improvement Package (SIP).
In an open letter to Malik Basintale, the chief executive officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Azure Awuni urged him not to sign a new contract with Zoomlion, alleging that “the cleaners’ deal is just one of them [contracts between the Government of Ghana and the waste management company] and it stinks to the heavens”.
However, addressing journalists after a tour of Zoomlion’s Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant (KCARP) in the capital of the Ashanti Region on Thursday (24 April), Bless clearly disagreed with Azure Awuni, warning that thousands of Ghanaians who are employed by Zoomlion will lose their jobs if the contract is not renewed.
“If there are issues with the contract, that’s why we are leaders: we have to address them,” he said.
He disclosed that his committee plans to invite Azure Awuni to appear before members to share his concerns on the subject and find a way forward.
“We want to invite Manasseh Azure to appear before the committee some time next week … to come and share the information he has as far as this issue is concerned, so we find a way out,” Oti Bless said.
Zoomlion and the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) employ many Ghanaians and so, he argued, rather than terminate their contract, the best approach would be to support them to grow and create more jobs.
The committee chairman emphasised the importance of supporting Ghanaian businesses and job creation, and highlighted Zoomlion’s significant role in sanitation management.
“Definitely, once it has to do with Ghanaians, thousands of Ghanaians will lose their jobs if this contract is not renewed. So, we as a committee and representatives of the people … [believe that] a non-renewal will affect a lot of Ghanaians,” he warned.
He expressed confidence that the government will settle the GHC1.2 billion it owes to Zoomlion, as promised by the Minister for Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson.
He also mentioned discussions already under way with the YEA chief executive, who will soon be invited to appear before the committee to see how best to improve remuneration for sweepers.
State support
Oti Bless, who was highly impressed after the committee’s tour of KCARP, commended Zoomlion and JGC for the scale of their investment and urged Ghanaians to support them.
“In fact, I am impressed! This is the first time I’m witnessing this kind of investment,” he said. “Zoomlion and Jospong are Ghanaians, and I commend them for the wisdom and knowledge given to him [referring to Joseph Siaw Agyepong, the executive chairman of JGC] by God.
“I urge the public, service providers, farmers, civil society organisations and everyone to support Jospong Group, especially the government. A private company’s growth and success largely depend on government support,” the committee chairman said.
The general manager of KCARP, Samuel Ntummy, expressed his appreciation to the committee members for their visit to inspect the facilities.
He urged them to support private waste management companies such as Zoomlion to improve sanitation in Ghana.
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