The former CEO of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Kofi Agyepong, has noted that at the time of his departure in January 2025, Zoomlion Ghana Limited no longer held an active contract with the agency for the sanitation module.

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In his statement, "Setting the Records Straight – YEA Sanitation Module," Kofi Agyepong responded to recent comments by Malik Basintale, the current CEO of YEA, who criticized the sanitation contract with Zoomlion as exploitative and unjustifiable.

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Agyepong made it clear that as of January 25, the YEA had not renewed its contract with Zoomlion, stressing that the sanitation module was in dire need of a complete overhaul.

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"Like you, I have always maintained that the sanitation module needed a complete overhaul — not only to ensure better welfare for our hardworking beneficiaries, but also because the functions being carried out overlapped with those of the local assemblies," he explained.

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He went on to assert that his decision was based on principle, not politics, and referenced board meeting minutes and official documents to back his stance. "We can’t be doing something that the assemblies are already doing," he stated.

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While recognizing Basintale’s firm stance on the matter, Agyepong called for a national conversation on the necessary reforms to the sanitation module.

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“What we need now is not blame, but bold action guided by facts, respect for the workers, and a firm commitment to value for money,” he emphasized.

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Agyepong’s statement comes amid mounting scrutiny of the YEA-Zoomlion sanitation arrangement, which has faced backlash from civil society, including journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, who accused the contract of exploiting sanitation workers and disproportionately benefiting the contractor.

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