The government has made a firm pledge to recover any payments made to Zoomlion Ghana Limited that are found to be unauthorised, following the non-renewal of its long-standing contract with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).

This commitment to financial accountability was officially communicated in a letter dated June 11, 2025, signed by Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, in response to a petition by investigative journalist Manasseh Awuni Azure.

The letter explicitly states, "All payments made to Zoomlion after the contract’s expiration will be thoroughly audited. No further payments will be authorised without proper verification, and any unauthorised payments will be recovered."

READ ALSO: Zoomlion contract will not be renewed, Sweepers’ fees to increase—President Mahama

This strong directive from the Presidency signals a determined effort to scrutinise past financial dealings and claw back any funds that may have been disbursed without proper justification.

This decisive action comes as the contract between the YEA and Zoomlion has officially expired and, as confirmed by the Presidency, "will not be renewed".

The termination follows years of public debate and scrutiny, including the petition by investigative journalist Manasseh Awuni Azure dated April 27, 2025, which raised serious concerns about the contract's continuation and financial prudence.

Mr. Azure's work has consistently highlighted issues of alleged financial irregularities in various public contracts.

Beyond the commitment to recover unauthorised funds, the government has outlined a comprehensive overhaul of its approach to sanitation contracts.

The Presidency has disclosed that all future sanitation service procurements will be subjected to a competitive procurement process.

This will pivot away from a single national contractor model, favouring instead regional or district-based tenders for private firms.

In a related development, the government intends to increase the fees paid to sanitation sweepers to a more liveable income, addressing a long-standing welfare issue for these frontline workers.

Furthermore, the letter indicates a broader review of fumigation contracts, stating that those "that have not been performed satisfactorily will be reviewed and, where appropriate, terminated in accordance with their terms and upon the advice of the Attorney-General."

The government's dual commitment to ending the controversial contract and recovering potential unauthorised payments underscores a renewed focus on transparency, efficiency, and robust public financial management in response to sustained advocacy for accountability.