Zoomlion Rejects Auditor General’s Findings on 13th African Games Cleaning Services
Zoomlion Ghana Limited has rejected claims by the Auditor General that its invoices for cleaning and vector control services at the 13th African Games contained duplicated labour charges and undefined costs.
In a press statement issued on May 27, 2026, the company said the findings “misinterpret operational reality” and ignored the separate contracts and supporting documents already submitted to state institutions.
The Auditor General’s report alleged duplication of labour charges, vague “Services” cost heads, and a lack of itemised bills of quantities in invoices for the Games held in Accra earlier this year.
Zoomlion said the report wrongly combined two distinct operations under one heading.
“The report wrongly mixes vector control services with janitorial services,” the statement read. “These are separate contracts with different teams, equipment and schedules.”
According to Zoomlion, vector control covered fogging and pest management for mosquitoes, reptiles, rodents and cockroaches using specialised equipment. Janitorial services covered daily cleaning, waste evacuation, mopping, disinfection and maintenance of stands and washrooms. The company said the appearance of “labour” on both invoices reflects the cost of staff for two separate operations, not duplication.
On the issue of undefined “Services” charges, Zoomlion said every invoice was backed by a contract and service level agreement that detailed more than 30 activities. These included daily emptying of colour-coded waste bins, mechanical sweeping, vacuum cleaning, removal of cobwebs and stains, provision of soaps and toilet rolls, mobile toilets, medical waste treatment, and water supply with cesspit emptying.
The company added that it deployed a full fleet across four venues – Accra Sports Stadium, Borteyman Sports Complex, Achimota Cricket Oval and Bukom Trust Emporium. Equipment included compaction trucks, medical waste trucks, thermal foggers, knapsack sprayers, floor scrubbing machines, buffer machines, vacuum cleaners, mobile toilets, hundreds of colour-coded bins, PPE and consumables. Line-item breakdowns, Zoomlion said, are available.
Zoomlion stressed that all invoices, contracts, service schedules, daily supervision logs and equipment deployment records were submitted to the Ministry of Sports and other state institutions responsible for the Games.
“The Auditor General had every opportunity at the material time to review these documents and satisfy itself that there was absolutely nothing wrong with Zoomlion’s invoices,” the statement said.
The company said services ran uninterrupted from March 1 to April 1, 2024, covering 31 days and a full week before the Games began. A shift system ensured 24/7 coverage. Over 350 personnel were trained at the Army Peace Operations Training School between February 4 and 24 in waste management, vector control, health and safety, and conflict resolution.
Waste segregation into recyclables and general waste was implemented to reduce the event’s carbon footprint. Zoomlion said there were no disease outbreaks or sanitation failures during the Games.
Concluding, Zoomlion said it “unequivocally denies these allegations” and reaffirmed its commitment to integrity, professionalism and accountability.
The 13th African Games took place in Accra from March 8 to 23, 2024.
