By On April 25, 2025, Maleek Basintale, a Ghanaian advocate for youth empowerment and economic justice, took to X to voice his outrage over the long-standing Zoomlion contract, a waste management agreement that has sparked controversy for nearly a decade. His post, shared at 12:34 UTC, is a passionate critique of the systemic exploitation embedded in the contract, which he claims has undervalued the labor of Ghanaian youth and workers for far too long.
Basintale’s words resonate deeply, not only as a reflection of his personal commitment to integrity but also as a broader call for systemic change under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, who returned to power in January 2025 following his victory in the December 2024 general election. This essay delves into the layers of Basintale’s critique, the historical context of the Zoomlion contract, and the broader implications for Ghana’s youth, economy, and governance.
The Zoomlion Contract: A Legacy of Exploitation
At the heart of Basintale’s post is the Zoomlion contract, a waste management agreement that has been a point of contention in Ghana for years. Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a private waste management company, has been a dominant player in the country’s sanitation sector since its establishment in 2006. The company partners with the government through initiatives like the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) to employ young Ghanaians in sanitation roles, such as street sweeping and waste collection.
While the initiative was initially hailed as a solution to youth unemployment and urban sanitation challenges, it has since been marred by allegations of mismanagement, unfair labor practices, and financial impropriety.
Basintale highlights a particularly egregious aspect of the contract: for seven years and nine months, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, which ruled from 2017 to 2024, renewed the Zoomlion contract without revising its terms, leaving workers to earn a paltry Ghc250 (approximately $16 USD at 2025 exchange rates) per month. This amount is starkly insufficient in a country where the cost of living has soared due to inflation, currency depreciation, and economic challenges exacerbated by global events and domestic mismanagement.
For context, a basic meal in Accra can cost between Ghc20 and Ghc50, meaning a Zoomlion worker’s monthly salary might barely cover a week’s worth of food, let alone rent, transportation, or other essentials. Basintale’s outrage is palpable when he declares, “It is EVIL for the Previous government to have committed to this,” emphasizing the moral failing of a system that allows such exploitation to persist.
The Zoomlion contract’s low wages are not just a financial issue—they represent a deeper systemic failure to prioritize the dignity and well-being of Ghana’s youth. Waste management workers, often young and from marginalized communities, perform physically demanding and socially stigmatized labor. They are exposed to health risks, such as respiratory issues from dust and infections from handling waste, yet their compensation does not reflect the value of their contribution to public health and urban cleanliness.
Basintale personalizes this struggle by reflecting on his own family: “If my mother/Brother/Sister were a Zoomlion worker, I won’t be happy with either of them taking Ghc250 as Salary.” This empathetic stance underscores his commitment to advocating for workers as if they were his own kin, a powerful rhetorical device that resonates with Ghanaians who have long felt neglected by their leaders.
Historical Context: The Zoomlion Scandal and Governance Failures
To fully understand Basintale’s critique, we must revisit the historical context of the Zoomlion contract, which has been a lightning rod for controversy since at least 2016. A web search result from that year reveals the NPP, then in opposition, accusing the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of a dubious deal with Zoomlion worth GH¢448 million.
The NPP alleged that payments were made to Zoomlion for services rendered between 2013 and 2015, a period during which no binding contract existed between the company and the state. This revelation, brought to light by NPP figures like Boakye Agyarko, pointed to a broader pattern of financial mismanagement and potential corruption, with critics labeling the payments as akin to “bogus judgment debts” that burdened Ghanaian taxpayers.
Ironically, the NPP’s 2016 allegations now serve as a backdrop for Basintale’s 2025 critique of the same party. After winning the 2016 and 2020 elections, the NPP governed for eight years but failed to address the structural issues in the Zoomlion contract. Instead, as Basintale notes, they perpetuated the same exploitative terms, paying workers Ghc250 while Zoomlion reportedly retained a significant portion of the contract’s funds.
This continuity of policy across administrations—NDC to NPP and back to NDC—highlights a troubling reality in Ghanaian governance: the persistence of systemic issues despite changes in political leadership. It suggests that the Zoomlion contract may have been a convenient tool for political patronage, benefiting elites and connected businesses while neglecting the workers at the bottom of the chain.
The web search result from September 2024 offers a glimmer of hope, noting that the YEA announced reforms to pay sanitation workers directly, bypassing Zoomlion, with an increase in allowances. However, Basintale’s post, written seven months later, indicates that these reforms may not have been fully implemented or effective, as the contract remains in its “current state or form,” which he vows not to renew. This discrepancy raises questions about the pace of change and the challenges of dismantling entrenched systems, even under a new administration committed to reform.
Mahama’s Return and the Promise of Change
Basintale’s post is not just a critique of the past—it is a rallying cry for the future, anchored in the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama. Mahama, who previously served as president from 2012 to 2017, returned to power in January 2025 after defeating the NPP in the December 2024 election. Basintale references this political shift, noting, “On December 7th, 2024, Change came and Change must Happen.”
Mahama’s victory was seen by many as a mandate to address the economic hardships, corruption, and social inequities that had worsened under the NPP’s tenure, including issues like the Zoomlion contract.
Mahama’s broader economic agenda provides context for Basintale’s promise to reform the Zoomlion contract. A web search result from February 2025 highlights Mahama’s commitment to Ghana’s economic recovery program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), emphasizing tax rationalization, expenditure control, and prudent financial management.
These priorities align with Basintale’s push to ensure that workers are “paid satisfactorily for the work done,” as fair wages require reallocating resources away from wasteful spending—a problem Mahama has vowed to tackle. Moreover, Mahama’s focus on cutting wasteful spending could directly address the Zoomlion contract’s inefficiencies, such as the alleged siphoning of funds by the company while workers receive meager pay.
Basintale’s alignment with Mahama is not merely political—it is deeply personal. He swears “on my honor as I stand by the grave of my late DAD” not to renew the Zoomlion contract in its current form, a solemn oath that underscores the gravity of his commitment. This personal touch, combined with his plan to engage the public through a live Facebook session at 8 PM on April 25, 2025, positions Basintale as a leader who is both accountable and accessible.
His approach contrasts sharply with the opaque governance that has historically surrounded the Zoomlion contract, fostering hope among Ghanaians that real change is on the horizon.
The Broader Implications: Youth, Waste Management, and Economic Equity
Basintale’s post is not an isolated critique—it reflects broader challenges in Ghana’s waste management sector and economy. A web search result from a study on urban solid waste management in Ghana paints a grim picture: the country generates 12,710 tons of solid waste daily, but only 10% is collected and disposed of at designated sites.
This inefficiency is compounded by rapid population growth, urbanization, inadequate infrastructure, and low public awareness of proper waste management practices. Zoomlion workers, paid a mere Ghc250, are on the front lines of this crisis, yet they are undervalued and under-resourced, lacking adequate protective equipment, waste bins, and transportation systems.
The low wages paid to Zoomlion workers also reflect a deeper issue of economic inequity in Ghana. Youth unemployment remains a pressing concern, with many young Ghanaians turning to informal or low-paying jobs like waste collection out of necessity. The Zoomlion contract, while marketed as a youth employment initiative, has instead perpetuated a cycle of poverty, offering wages that trap workers in financial insecurity.
Basintale’s promise to reform the contract is thus a step toward economic justice, ensuring that the youth who form the backbone of Ghana’s labor force are compensated fairly and given opportunities to thrive.
Moreover, the Zoomlion controversy highlights the need for systemic reforms in Ghana’s waste management sector. One reply to Basintale’s post, from a user named Braa Sulley, suggests canceling the Zoomlion contract entirely and decentralizing waste management to district assemblies. This proposal aligns with global best practices, as decentralized systems can be more responsive to local needs, reduce dependency on private contractors, and ensure better accountability.
However, such a shift would require significant investment in infrastructure, training, and public education—areas where Ghana has historically struggled, as noted in the web study on urban waste management.
A Call to Action: Can Basintale Deliver?
Maleek Basintale’s post is a powerful declaration of intent, but it also raises questions about implementation and accountability. His promise not to renew the Zoomlion contract in its current form is a bold step, but the devil lies in the details. How will the contract be renegotiated? What will the new wage structure look like? Will Zoomlion be held accountable for past inequities, or will the burden of reform fall solely on the government?
These questions remain unanswered, though Basintale’s planned Facebook Live session at 8 PM on April 25, 2025, offers an opportunity for public engagement and transparency.
The responses to Basintale’s post reflect a mix of optimism and cautious skepticism. Users like Muhammad Yaasiin and Nyame Anthony Adusah express pride and support, seeing Basintale as a champion of the “New Ghana” under Mahama’s leadership. Others, like Fidelis Abagulum, emphasize the need for action over words: “The swearing has to be converted to action. We’re following with keen interest.”
This sentiment underscores the high stakes of Basintale’s promise—Ghanaians, weary of unfulfilled political pledges, are watching closely to see if he can deliver.
Conclusion: A Moment of Reckoning for Ghana
Maleek Basintale’s critique of the Zoomlion contract is more than a policy issue—it is a moment of reckoning for Ghana. It forces the nation to confront uncomfortable truths about governance, economic equity, and the treatment of its youth. For too long, the Zoomlion contract has symbolized the disconnect between Ghana’s political elite and its working class, with workers bearing the brunt of systemic failures while companies and officials profit.
Basintale’s post, backed by Mahama’s leadership, offers a chance to rewrite this narrative, ensuring that Ghana’s youth are not just seen as labor to be exploited but as citizens deserving of dignity, fair pay, and a voice in their future.
As Ghana navigates its economic recovery and social challenges in 2025, the Zoomlion contract reform could serve as a litmus test for Mahama’s administration. If Basintale and Mahama can deliver on their promises—raising wages, improving working conditions, and holding Zoomlion accountable—they could set a precedent for broader reforms in labor, waste management, and governance.
But if they falter, they risk deepening the cynicism that has long plagued Ghanaian politics. For now, Basintale’s words—“We Can’t Fail the Masses”—echo as both a pledge and a challenge, one that Ghanaians will hold him to in the days and months ahead.
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