Manasseh Azure commends Ekow Vincent, Kofi Agyepong for taking on Zoomlion contract

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has acknowledged the efforts of the former Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Kofi Agyepong, in the fight against the monopoly of waste management company Zoomlion.

He also praised the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, who served as a board member of the YEA during the previous administration, for his role in ensuring that Zoomlion was not awarded another contract.

In a post shared via his blog, Manasseh Azure noted that although the former CEO did not have the full backing of the board, he opposed the renewal of the contract.

His post read:

"The immediate past CEO of the YEA, Kofi Baah Agyepong, is part of the reason the contract was not renewed before the NPP left office. In 2022, Kofi Agyepong fought for the cancellation of the contract, but he did not get the support of the board. The board, chaired by Anita Kusi Boateng—the wife of Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng (also known as Kwabena Adu Gyamfi)—was in favour of continuing the contract, even after the CEO proved that it was a waste of resources."

He mentioned that only two board members—Lawrencia Adams and Vincent Ekow Assafuah Esq.—supported the CEO in his resistance against Zoomlion’s monopoly.

"Kofi Agyepong said the YEA was capable of managing the sweepers. The two other members of the YEA board who supported him were Lawrencia Adams and Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the NPP MP for Tafo Pankrono. Both Kofi Agyepong and Vincent Assafuah have supported me immensely in this fight, and I appreciate them," he stated.

Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama has assured the investigative journalist that he will not renew the Zoomlion contract with the YEA.

He announced that the contract will go through a competitive bidding process, and there will be a review and adjustment of the allowances for sweepers.

Zoomlion, in a separate statement, has indicated that it is open to the government’s current position and will participate in the competitive bidding process to secure the contract.