Stop Acting Like Zoomlion Owns Ghana’s Waste Sector — Charles McCarthy Blasts Monopoly, Defends Contract Review
Managing Editor of Hawk Newspaper, Charles McCarthy, has criticized Ghana’s long-standing dependence on Zoomlion Ghana Limited, arguing that the country has relied on the waste management giant for far too long at the expense of other service providers.
Speaking on the ongoing debate over the government’s review of Zoomlion’s sanitation contract on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, McCarthy dismissed claims that the company was being unfairly targeted.
“Zoomlion alone cannot manage all waste management in this country,” he stressed, insisting that Ghana must open the sector to more competition.
According to him, successive governments deliberately sidelined other waste management companies to favour Zoomlion, creating what he described as a monopoly in the sanitation industry.
“We have over-relied on the monopoly of Zoomlion for far too long. Nobody should create the impression that anyone is targeting Zoomlion,” he stated.
McCarthy questioned the fate of other waste management firms that existed before Zoomlion became the dominant player, arguing that many were pushed out despite having the capacity to operate.
He also criticized what he described as the underpayment of sanitation workers despite the huge sums of public money allocated to waste management.
“How can you take huge sums of money from government and underpay workers?” he asked.
McCarthy further argued that allocating 30 percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund to one company gave it excessive financial advantage, making it difficult for competitors to survive.
Touching on the government’s recent decision, he clarified that reports suggesting Zoomlion’s entire contract had been cancelled were inaccurate.
“It is not true that Zoomlion’s contract has been cancelled. It is only the sweeping component of the contract that has been suspended,” he explained.
He also questioned why refuse collection should stop simply because one aspect of the company’s agreement had been reviewed, urging authorities and service providers to ensure sanitation services continue uninterrupted.
By Maurice Otoo
