<<Print>>

Management of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), in its quest to streamline its operations, on Wednesday announced that it has reviewed its contract with Zoomlion Ghana Limited under their sanitation module.

The Chief Executive of YEA, Justin Kodua Frimpong disclosed that the Agency has realized some contractual arrangements that are at variance with the Agency's Act (Act 887) and the Youth Employment Regulations 2016 (LI 2231).

He revealed in a statement to Peacefmonline.com and later on Thursday edition of Peace FM's Kokrokoo with host Kwami Sefa Kayi that it's become necessary to review the contract and also open up for competitive bidding because they consider the action by the sanitation services company, with particular respect to the beneficiaries of the programme, an "affront".

"Zoomlion Ghana Limited furnished the Agency with a total figure of 45,320 as Beneficiaries across the country detailing a regional breakdown. The Agency initiated a nationwide headcount to verify the figures as submitted by Zoomlion Ghana Limited. Out of the 45,320 names, 38,884 turned out for the exercise. In response to the discrepancy in the data, Zoomlion Ghana Limited contended that, Beneficiary apathy and short notice given to Beneficiaries accounted for the discrepancy.

"Most of the Beneficiaries were recruited without recourse to the Youth Employment Agency. Therefore, there was no appointment letters issued to these Beneficiaries, a practice we consider unacceptable", the Agency revealed.

He also indicated that "Zoomlion Ghana Limited has till date been unable to furnish the Agency with payment records of Beneficiaries on their payroll. The review established that each Beneficiary is paid GHC 100.00 whiles GHC 400.00 goes to the service provider as management fees. This practice we consider an affront to Beneficiaries on the programme".

Mr. Kodua Frimpong stated emphatically that YEA has no records of any payment system with Zoomlion, which is very disturbing.

Commenting on the issue on Kokrokoo on Thursday, Communications Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful lambasted previous management of the Agency over their inability to hold records of their engagement with the janitorial and environmental sanitation services company.

To her, it is "naked robbery" on the part of both the past leaders of the Agency and Zoomlion company to transact business which involves state funds without records to prove the payment arrangements with the service provider.

She further wondered why the Agency is not paying the beneficiaries themselves but leaving the responsibility of remuneration to the service provider.

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful advised the management of YEA to safeguard the financial purse in order not to waste the nation's money.

"The money squandered has been squandered. We should safeguard the remainder because it’s naked robbery…It is rotten to the core”, she said.