By Josephine Kekeli Amuzu
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Caucus has issued a firm statement denying any involvement in the Youth Employment Agency’s (YEA) sanitation contract with waste management giant Zoomlion.
In a press release signed by Member of Parliament and Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, the NDC Caucus clarified that it has not mandated the Parliamentary Sanitation Committee to interfere in YEA’s contractual decisions concerning Zoomlion.
The statement follows media reports suggesting possible interference or endorsement of Zoomlion’s sanitation contract by some committee members.
READ ALSO: Don’t cancel zoomlion contract – Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation tells YEA
According to Majority leader Mahama Ayariga, the Chairman of the Sanitation Committee has confirmed that neither he nor any other committee member has acted in a manner that suggests interference with the YEA’s operations.
He stressed that any public statements by individual committee members that seem to defend or support Zoomlion’s contract should be disregarded by both the YEA and the public.
“Any comments made by any member of the Sanitation Committee which appears to defend Zoomlion’s sanitation contract with YEA should be ignored by YEA or the public as they do not represent the decision or opinion of the Committer or Parliament,” the statement read.
This clarification follows mounting public criticism of the YEA-Zoomlion contract, which has been labeled ‘exploitative’ by voices such as investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni.
Growing pressure is being placed on the YEA to terminate the deal and hand over the management of sanitation workers to local assemblies.Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale, says will not renew the current contract with waste management company, Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
READ ALSO: I won’t renew Zoomlion contract in its current state – YEA CEO Malik Basintale
The NDC Caucus also cautioned Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) against succumbing to pressure from any authority to award sanitation contracts to specific companies.
“District Assembly should not in any form or manner allow itself to be intimidated by any authority to enter into any sanitation contract with any particular company.”
The statement emphasized the Assemblies’ autonomy in line with the implementation of a directive by former President John Dramani Mahama, which ensured that 80% of the District Assemblies Common Fund was sent directly to the Assemblies, granting them independence in setting their development priorities.
