Manasseh Azure praises the role of Ekow Vincent and Kofi Agyepong in the fight against Zoomlion contract
Investigative Journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has acknowledged the effort of the former Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency, Kofi Agyepong in the fight against the monopoly of Zoomlion.
He has also praised the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, who served as a board member of the Youth Employment Agency in the previous administration, for their role in ensuring Zoomlion was not given another contract.
In a post shared via his blog, Manasseh Azure noted that even though the former chief executive did not have the backing of all the board members, he kicked against the renewal of the contract.
His post read, “The immediate past CEO of the YEA, Kofi Baah Agyepong, is part of the reason the contract was not renewed before the NPP left office. In 2022, Kofi Agyepong fought for the cancellation of the contract, but he did not get the support of the board. The board, chaired by Anita Kusi Boateng, the wife of Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng/Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, was in favour of continuing the contract, even after the CEO proved that it was a waste of resources.
He mentioned that only one Lawrencia Adams and Vincent Ekow Assafuah Esq were the board members who supported the chief executive’s fight against Zoomlion’s monopoly.
“Kofi Agyepong said the YEA was capable of managing the sweepers. The two other members of the YEA board who supported Kofi Agyepong were Lawrencia Adams and Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the NPP MP for Tafo Pankrono. Both Kofi Agyepong and Vincent Assafuah have supported me immensely in this fight, and I appreciate them,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has assured the investigative journalist that he will not renew the Zoomlion contract with the YEA.
He has announced that there will be competitive bidding for the contract, while there will be a review and adjustment of allowances for sweepers.
Zoomlion, in a separate statement, has given the strongest indication that they are open to government’s current position and will join the competitive bidding process to secure the contract.
