Former CEO of YEA, Kofi Agyepong
Former Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Kofi Agyepong, has clarified that Zoomlion Ghana Limited held no active contract with the agency for the sanitation module at the time of his departure from office in January 2025.
In a statement titled “Setting the Records Straight – YEA Sanitation Module,” Agyepong responded to recent comments by current YEA CEO Malik Basintale, who described the sanitation contract with Zoomlion as exploitative and unjustifiable.
Agyepong revealed that, as of his departure on January 25, 2025, the YEA had not renewed its contract with Zoomlion, asserting that the module required a complete overhaul.
“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 stated.
He added that his position was supported by board meeting minutes and official documents, emphasizing that his decision was based on principle rather than politics. “We can’t be doing something that the assemblies are already doing,” he wrote.
The former CEO commended Basintale’s bold stance on the issue and called for a national dialogue on reforming the sanitation model.
“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 stressed.
Agyepong’s comments come amid heightened scrutiny of the YEA-Zoomlion sanitation arrangement, which has been criticized by civil society voices including journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni for allegedly shortchanging sanitation workers while enriching the contractor.
The statement signals a rare continuity of purpose across two administrations and adds weight to growing calls for a restructuring or complete cancellation of the controversial sanitation contract.