A growing accountability debate is emerging over sanitation spending, as the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources raises concerns about payments made to Zoomlion Ghana Limited under a controversial deduction policy.
Following a two-day assessment tour of selected Assemblies in the Central Region, the Committee signaled unease over whether public funds deducted from the District Assemblies Common Fund correspond to actual services delivered.
Chairman of the Committee and MP for Nkwanta North, John Oti Bless, disclosed that findings from the tour suggest a mismatch between payments and work done. According to him, more than GH¢100,000 in quarterly deductions had been made in some Assemblies, despite limited evidence of the contracted fumigation exercises.
The issue stems from a 2022 directive that introduced direct source deductions to streamline payments to Zoomlion. However, the Committee observed that the arrangement appears to lack adequate verification systems to confirm service delivery before funds are released.
While the Assemblies—including Mfantseman Municipality, Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality, and the Cape Coast Metropolis—acknowledged the company’s role in disinfection activities, the Committee noted that disinfection differs significantly from fumigation, which is what the contract specifies.
Mr. Oti Bless emphasized that fumigation involves the use of gases in enclosed spaces to eliminate pests, whereas disinfection targets surface-level germs. He argued that paying for one service while another is delivered raises serious questions about compliance and value for money.
Despite the concerns, the Committee maintained that its inquiry is not targeted at any entity but aimed at ensuring transparency and protecting public funds. It stressed that no contractor should be paid for services not rendered, especially when the resources involved are drawn from taxpayers.
The findings come as part of broader efforts to improve sanitation and water management nationwide, with the Committee relying on first-hand data to inform policy decisions. The tour also included inspections of key facilities such as the integrated recycling plant at Mankessim and critical water infrastructure serving Cape Coast and Elmina.
As discussions continue, the spotlight is now on strengthening oversight mechanisms to ensure that sanitation contracts deliver measurable impact in communities while safeguarding limited public resources.
