Zoomlion responds to Auditor-General's findings on African Games cleaning services

Zoomlion Ghana Limited has strongly rejected findings by the Auditor-General relating to cleaning and vector control services provided during the 13th African Games in Accra, describing the allegations as "inaccurate and a misinterpretation of operational realities." The Auditor-General reportedly raised concerns over alleged duplication of labour charges, undefined "services" cost heads, and lack of itemised bills of quantities in invoices submitted for cleaning and vector control services during the Games. Zoomlion refuted the claims, insisting that the findings fail to distinguish between separate contracts executed under the project.

According to Zoomlion, vector control operations and janitorial services were distinct assignments with different scopes, teams, and equipment. The company explained that vector control involved mosquito, rodent, reptile and cockroach control, while janitorial services covered daily cleaning, waste evacuation, and sanitation management across venues. Zoomlion also rejected claims of duplication of labour charges, stating that references to labour in invoices reflected staffing for two separate service areas rather than repeated billing. The company said the African Games sanitation operations covered more than 30 service activities, deployed equipment such as compaction trucks and fogging machines, and trained over 350 personnel ahead of the Games to ensure round-the-clock operations throughout the 31-day period, from March 1 to April 1, 2024.

Zoomlion maintained that all contract documents, service level agreements, and supporting records were made available to relevant state institutions and the Auditor-General during the audit process. The company claimed that no sanitation failures or disease outbreaks were recorded during the event, adding that waste management operations contributed to environmental sustainability efforts. Zoomlion described the allegations as unfounded and reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, accountability, and high service standards in all its operations.