The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has increased the monthly allowance for its street sweepers to GH¢800, up from the GH¢250 paid under the previous Youth Employment Agency (YEA)-Zoomlion sanitation module.
The development follows a petition by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, which contributed to the government’s decision to discontinue the YEA-Zoomlion street sweeping contract over concerns about the low remuneration of sanitation workers.
Speaking on Nhyira FM’s Kro Yi Mu Nsem programme on Tuesday, July 14, Manasseh said the KMA is now paying street sweepers directly from its Internally Generated Funds (IGF) as part of efforts to improve their welfare and strengthen sanitation management in the metropolis.
“The Kumasi Mayor informed me that sweepers now receive GH¢800 monthly. This marks a significant increase from the GH¢250 they earned under the previous arrangement,” he told host Barima Kofi Dawson-Akokoa.
According to him, his campaign against the previous payment structure was aimed at ensuring sanitation workers received fair compensation for their work.
Manasseh also dismissed claims that Ghana’s sanitation sector cannot operate effectively without Zoomlion Ghana Limited. He stressed that while the company still holds several government contracts, only the street sweeping contract under the YEA sanitation module has been terminated.
He argued that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have the capacity to manage waste collection and sanitation services if they are adequately equipped and resourced.
“Before Zoomlion came into the picture, waste management was the responsibility of the assemblies. They can still do it effectively if they are given the necessary equipment,” he said.
Meanwhile, the KMA has issued a statement clarifying the implications of the new payment structure following an engagement between Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi and Manasseh Azure Awuni.
According to the Assembly, KMA-engaged sweepers currently receive a monthly allowance of GH¢800.
The Mayor explained that under the former YEA sanitation module, the Assembly deployed more than 580 street sweepers across Kumasi. However, following the new arrangement, only 102 sweepers are currently managing the same areas.
The statement further clarified that the Mayor did not compare the GH¢800 allowance currently paid by KMA with the GH¢250 previously paid under the YEA-Zoomlion arrangement. It stressed that any interpretation suggesting such a comparison does not accurately reflect his comments or the intent of his response during the interview.
The Assembly also noted that the Sanitation Improvement Package (SIP) contract between KMA and Zoomlion Ghana Limited remains valid and operational.
It reaffirmed its commitment to improving environmental sanitation through collaboration with all stakeholders and assured residents that it remains dedicated to keeping Kumasi clean despite existing financial and operational challenges.
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