By Prince Ahenkorah
Zoomlion Ghana Limited has taken swift action to address sanitation challenges in the Asante Akyem South Municipality following concerns raised by the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Maame Safoah Appiah, during a recent sitting of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Kumasi.
The concerns, which centered on refuse spillages at communal container sites, deteriorated waste containers, and allegations of self-financed fuel for waste evacuation, prompted immediate engagement between the company and the MCE at the hearing on April 21, 2026.
In response, Zoomlion dispatched a high-powered delegation to the municipality on April 22, 2026, to conduct a full-scale assessment of the situation and verify the claims raised.
The team included senior officials such as the Chief Internal Auditor, Group Head of Internal Control, General Manager, Regional Coordinator, District Manager, and an Operations Assistant. They met with the MCE and her technical team before undertaking field inspections across the municipality.
The inspection covered nine communal container sites, the landfill site, interactions with military personnel responsible for fuel management, and engagements with the Municipal Head of Environment.
The team confirmed significant waste spillages at all visited container sites. It also identified two containers that required urgent repairs and two others that needed immediate replacement, while five were found to be in good condition.
Zoomlion further attributed the sanitation challenges partly to delays in fuel supply, caused by a shortage at the designated GOIL filling station, which serves as the approved fuel supplier for the municipality.
The investigation also clarified claims made at the PAC hearing, stating that the MCE had not personally paid for fuel. According to the report, she had only offered support through the Municipal Environmental Health Officer, but the offer was declined at the time due to fuel becoming available at the GOIL station.
Following the findings, Zoomlion immediately rolled out corrective measures on the same day, spending nearly GH¢20,000 on hiring equipment, purchasing fuel, and paying workers to evacuate waste and clean affected sites.
The company also acknowledged support from the MCE, who provided additional trucks to assist the cleanup exercise.
As a result of the intervention, waste at all affected sites has since been cleared, with sanitation conditions significantly improved across the municipality.
Zoomlion has therefore announced further plans to prevent future occurrences, including the supply of additional waste containers, repair of faulty trucks, expansion of fuel supply options, and reinforcement of its “Operation No Spillage” initiative.
The company also apologized for the situation and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining sanitation standards in partnership with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies nationwide.
Zoomlion stressed its continued dedication to ensuring clean and healthy communities across its operational areas.