Executive Director of The Press Foundation, Listowell Yesu Bukarson
Government has been called upon to investigate operations of Zoomlion Ghana in the Builsa North district of the Upper East Region immediately.
The call comes in the wake of revelations that supervisors in the district deduct three Ghana cedis each from salaries of Gh100 from beneficiaries without justification.
The Executive Director of The Press Foundation, Listowell Yesu Bukarson made the call after a visit to the offices of the Youth Employment Agency in Sandema on Tuesday.
“Many of the workers who had lined up at the premises of the office for a head-count complained bitterly to me about failure of the scheme to pay them for the last seven months” He said.
“What’s baffled me were complaints that, three Ghana cedis is deducted from their take home of 100 Ghana cedis every month without reason” Mr. Bukarson added.
“What is that dedication for, who takes that money. I need to know” He queried.
Mr. Bukarson who lost the NPP Parliamentary primaries in the Builsa North Consistuency, leading up to the 2016 general elections, Adding that, “already the scheme has come under some massive scrutiny following the GYEEDA investigations report but, news that three Ghana cedis is deducted from each beneficiary in the district is not a pleasant one”
“In fact it’s robbery. And this must be investigated without delay” He charged.
“I call on the YEA to as a matter of urgency carry through its promise to review this sub-contracted youth employment and capacity building initiative, beginning in with the Builsa North district as soon as possible”. Mr. Bukarson called.
“It hurts to see these workers, queue in the sun all day long, without food, water of shelter in the name of head-count after they have not been paid for seven months”
“I can tell the world that even though under the contract terms, Zoomlion Ghana is expected to equip the youth, engaged by the module with the requisite equipment and working accoutrements to effectively clean the cities and towns, no such equipment is provided to the beneficiaries” He bemoaned.
In fact, this “Youth in Sanitation Module which was signed between the erstwhile Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) and sanitation giant, Zoomlion Ghana, in 2011 to address youth employment seem to me like a scam” he alluded.
“Am told that government pays Zoomlion GH¢160 million a year to cater for about 45,000 beneficiaries. Each beneficiary is expected to be paid GH¢500 a month. But Zoomlion Ghana pays them Gh100. Claiming that the GH¢400 deducted per head is used for the management services the company is expected to provide. So if the company deducts GH¢400 from GH¢500 per head, leaving beneficiaries with GH¢100, why will the district supervisors deduct extra three Ghana cedis” He questioned.
“I don’t get it, it sucks. The robbery of the poor in the hinterlands is killing” He added
Zoomlion also provides capacity building through training sessions.
Mr. Bukarson commended government for daring to renegotiate the deal with Zoomlion Ghana.
“I have read and heard from the Board Chairman of the YEA, Sammy Aukuk that, there is a new Act guiding the administration of the YEA which makes provision for the review of contracts after two years, assuring that the NPP [New Patriotic Party] government will take a critical look at this sanitation module going forward”. He revealed.
“I commend government for that assurance, but that certainly is not enough. We must see action. And this action must start with the immediate investigations into the module in Sandema” He added.
