Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe is urging the Liberian Legislature to prevent the awarding of a major national waste management contract to Zoomlion, a foreign-owned company currently operating in Ghana.
In a communication addressed to the Senate Plenary, Senator Snowe expressed deep concerns over what he describes as troubling indications that the Liberian government is considering Zoomlion for the contract to manage waste in key cities across the country.
Snowe acknowledged the importance of efficient waste management but emphasized that such decisions must prioritize national ownership, economic empowerment, and support for Liberian entrepreneurship. He warned that awarding the contract to a foreign entity without serious consideration for capable Liberian-owned companies would undermine local content efforts and deprive many Liberians of much-needed employment and sustainable livelihoods amid the country’s economic challenges.
Referencing Zoomlion’s controversial track record in Ghana, Senator Snowe cited years of public scrutiny marked by allegations of corruption, gross mismanagement, and the mistreatment of workers. He noted that these concerns prompted the administration of former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama to decline renewing the company’s contract, opting instead to open the sector to local businesses and enhance transparency.
The senator reminded the Senate that Zoomlion’s previous operations in Liberia were also marred by allegations of corruption and failed to produce meaningful technical capacity-building for Liberians. He argued that entering into a new agreement with a company rejected by another West African nation would be a critical misstep, both ethically and economically.
Calling for urgent legislative action, Snowe requested that the matter be brought before the Plenary for immediate deliberation. He recommended the issuance of a Senate resolution urging the government to reconsider its engagement with Zoomlion and prioritize Liberian-owned waste management firms with proven capabilities and a commitment to fair employment practices.
Senator Snowe concluded his communication by reminding his colleagues that the Liberian people are watching and urged them to seize this moment to protect national dignity, economic justice, and the future of Liberian workers.
He thanked Senate President Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence for her leadership and expressed hope for swift and decisive action by the Legislature.
