Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has issued a strong public appeal to Malik Basintale, the newly appointed CEO of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), urging him not to renew what he describes as a fraudulent and exploitative contract between the agency and waste management company Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
In a detailed statement shared on April 23, 2025, Awuni expressed deep concern over the treatment of sanitation workers under the now-expired contract, which he says allocated 850 Ghana cedis per month per worker, with only 250 cedis reaching the actual sweepers.
The remaining 600 cedis, according to Awuni, went to Zoomlion as management fees - a deal he has described as both "obscene" and "criminal." Awuni reminded Basintale that the previous CEO of the YEA, Kofi Agyepong, resisted attempts to renew the contract despite pressure from the board and other government officials.
Agyepong eventually informed Zoomlion in writing that the contract had expired in September 2024 and should be suspended.
