Investigative Journalist Manasseh Azure Raises Concerns Over Sanitation Guards Programme Relaunch

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has raised concerns over the planned reintroduction of the Sanitation Guards Programme, citing issues of unpaid allowances, lack of accountability, and alleged non-compliance with information disclosure laws.

In a post on his Facebook page, Mr Awuni questioned the credibility of the initiative, referencing challenges that affected the previous implementation of the programme.

According to him, in January 2026, the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, announced plans to reintroduce the programme to promote cleanliness nationwide.

He noted that a month earlier, the Minister had praised Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group, during a thanksgiving service and pledged deeper collaboration.

Mr Awuni alleged that in 2022, the Ministry paid about GHS 37.12 million to Zoomlion to manage and pay some 4,000 sanitation guards across the country.

However, he indicated that some guards and their supervisors reported that the last allowance of about GHS100 was paid in December 2023.

He further stated that many of the guards had since exited the programme, leading to its collapse in several areas due to lack of logistics, irregular payments, and weak supervision.

Mr Awuni also indicated that The Fourth Estate requested details including the list of guards, payment records, and contracts, but the Minister allegedly failed to provide the information despite directives from the Right to Information Commission.

The claims have triggered public discussion on transparency and accountability in the management of sanitation programmes.

Officials of the Ministry and Zoomlion Ghana Limited are yet to respond to the allegations.