The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Majority Caucus in Parliament has clarified that it has not authorised the Parliamentary Sanitation Committee to interfere in matters relating to the Youth Employment Agency's (YEA) sanitation contract with Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

In a statement signed by the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mahama Ayariga, the Caucus emphasised that no member of the Sanitation Committee has been mandated to intervene in the YEA’s contractual decisions.

“The Chairman of the Committee has reported to me that, contrary to media reports, neither he nor any committee member has attempted to interfere in the work of the YEA regarding the Zoomlion sanitation contract,” Ayariga stated.

He further noted that any comments made by individual committee members appearing to defend Zoomlion’s contract with the YEA should be disregarded by both the YEA and the general public, stressing that such remarks do not reflect the official position of the Committee or Parliament.

The Majority Leader also advised Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to resist any form of intimidation or pressure to enter into sanitation agreements with specific companies.

He recalled that Parliament, in line with a directive from President John Dramani Mahama during the last session, ensured that 80% of the District Assemblies Common Fund was disbursed directly to the Assemblies, thereby granting them autonomy over their development priorities.

Mr. Ayariga reiterated Parliament’s commitment to upholding the independence of local authorities and cautioned against any undue influence in their contractual decisions.