Managing Director of Vectorpes, a member of the Jospong Group of Companies, Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Kwame Addai, has asked corporate Ghana to disregard media reports about the company’s corporate social responsibility activities in support of the Akosombo Dam spillage victims.
He described an article by one Manasseh Azure Awuni, titled ‘Ibrahim Mahama, Zoomlion and Serious Questions for VRA’, as palpable lies and baseless, as it lacks any factual basis to stand on.
Dr. Addai was addressing the media in Bator, district capital of the North Tongu District Assembly during one of his outfit’s disinfection and fumigation exercises.
He said Zoomlion and the Jospong Group have corporate social responsibility as one of its core mandates, and that is the reason why at any point in time when some sections of Ghanaians are in a bad state, the company falls in to stand with the people. He cited the company’s proactiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Appiate mining chemical explosion and many others.
On Monday 23rd October 2023, Zoomlion Ghana Limited led by its executives and management presented a number of relief items worth over GH¢500,000 cedis to victims of the spillage.
A sister-company, Ecozoil Limited, also donated almost 500 life-jackets to media and rescue teams supporting the situation on the ground. At the same presentation event, Managing Director-Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Mrs. Gloria Opoku Anti – in addition to the items presented, announced the company’s preparedness to also fumigate the affected areas once the water finally recedes.
Dr. Addai therefore asked the question, “Where lies the allegation that we had a contract from VRA to undertake fumigation exercise?”
“Due to the announcement that was made by our MD, VRA called on Saturday to say that the water had receded in parts of the affected area. We confirmed from key players on the ground and rushed to the venue, as we were told some of the victims were returning home already – and then some sycophantic elements in the media fell in to feed fat and conclude we were contracted to carry out the exercise; so, what happen to our MD’s promise?
“We are aware that the story’s writer, Mr. Awuni, indicated we have a contract with the assemblies to do fumigation already and another with the Ministry of Health on disinfection – but he doesn’t know that all contracts have scope.
“Our mandate with the assembly is to do disinfestation at public toilets, refuse spots, communal container sites and a select few other places on quarterly basis under supervision of Environmental Health Officers in the assemblies. Again, our contract with the Ministry of Health is on malaria control, so we do lavaeciding and disinfection of stagnant water and bushes within the communities. These are completely different from fumigation.”
He said they are not the same.
Dr. Addai said when you fumigate it takes well over 5 hours for occupancy; and after disinfestation and disinfection only 30 minutes is required for occupancy, so where are the concocted lies coming from?
“As media, you do not know everything, so what you should do is to ask; don’t go about peddling falsehood against a brand that has stood the weather all this while, and this has persisted for well over 10 years now. That is wickedness, isn’t it?” he quizzed.
“Zoomlion and its subsidiaries will continue to disinfect and fumigate the areas to ensure it is safe for residents to occupy them alongside the water recession,” the vector MD noted.
“We will not be distracted by any wicked or unprofessional journalism; we will continue to work for a better Ghana.”
