MONROVIA – Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe of Bomi County has raised strong objections to the Liberian Governmentโs plan to award a major national waste management contract to Zoomlion, a foreign-owned company currently operating in Ghana.
In a formal communication addressed to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Senator called for legislative scrutiny and intervention to prevent the move.
Senator Snowe acknowledged the urgent need for efficient waste management services across major cities in Liberia, but cautioned that such a critical national decision must align with Liberiaโs economic goals particularly the promotion of local ownership, economic empowerment and entrepreneurship.
Awarding a multimillion-dollar contract to a foreign entity without meaningful engagement with capable Liberian-owned companies undermines our national interest, Senator Snowe stated.
According to him, such decision deprives thousands of Liberians of decent jobs and sustainable livelihoods during a time of economic uncertainty.
He also reminded his colleagues of the controversial track record of Zoomlion in Ghana, noting that the company has faced public scrutiny, including allegations of corruption, gross mismanagement, worker maltreatment and monopolistic practices.
Senator Snowe mentioned that, these issues prompted the Ghanaian government under President John Dramani Mahama to terminate Zoomlionโs contract, making way for local companies and more transparent service delivery.
The Senator further expressed concern that Zoomlionโs previous operations in Liberia ended amidst allegations of corruption and bribery, without contributing to capacity building or technical skills transfer for ordinary Liberians working in the waste management sector.
โIt would be a critical mistake to re-engage a company that has been rejected in another West African country on ethical, economic, and nationalistic grounds. The Senate must not hand over such a vital public service to an entity with a deeply troubling track record, he warned.
Following the reading of his communication, the Senate Plenary voted to receive the communication and forward it to the relevant committees for further review and action.
World Bank Group Places Ban on Zoomlion for Alleged Bribery
It can be recalled in September, 2013, the World Bank Group placed a ban on Zoomlion Ghana Limited for two years over alleged bribery in Liberia. The bribery allegation involved the โWorld Bank-financed Emergency Monrovia Urban Sanitation Project.โ
According to a report published on the World Bank’s website, Zoomlion paid bribes to facilitate contract execution and processing of invoices.
Accordingly, Zoomlion would not qualify for any contract financed by the World Bank Group for a period of two years. The two-year ban took effect on September 24, 2013.
The World Bank said Zoomlion needed to demonstrate full and satisfactory compliance with the World Bank Integrity standards in order for the ban to be lifted.
Zoomlion subsequently acknowledged the misconduct, added the World Bank.
The Bank said the debarment is part of a Negotiated Resolution Agreement (NRA) which acknowledged the companyโs cooperation and disciplinary measures against staff involved in the misconduct.
As part of the settlement, the World Bank indicated that Zoomlion need to demonstrate full and satisfactory compliance with the World Bank Integrity standards.
Commenting on the issue, the World Bank Integrity Vice President, Leonard McCarthy at the time, said โThis is a case where a company under a World Bank investigation is demonstrating responsibility for wrongdoing by enforcing disciplinary action and committing to a new standard of integrity governing its operations.โ
Public Reaction
Meanwhile, political pundits and Liberians are urging the Senate to thoroughly investigate the track records of Zoomlion before sanctioning any waste contract, moreover, they want the Senate to prioritize Liberian waste companies for contract, something which will uplift those companies and Liberians in general.
Most of the pundits have concurred with Senator Snoweโs call for the urgent need for efficient waste management services across major cities in Liberia, but also cautioned that such a critical national decision must align with Liberiaโs economic goals particularly the promotion of local ownership, economic empowerment and entrepreneurship.
