Zipline Drones Now Deliver Condoms and Textbooks – Health Minister

 

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has raised new concerns about the value Ghana is deriving from its drone delivery partnership with Zipline, stating that the service is increasingly being used to transport non-emergency items instead of critical medical supplies.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on December 1, the minister presented data indicating a significant shift from the project’s original mission. The Zipline programme was initially implemented to deliver essential medical items—such as blood products and vaccines—to remote and underserved communities.

However, Mr. Akandoh revealed that only a small fraction of current deliveries fulfills this lifesaving purpose. Deliveries to hard-to-reach areas now account for just 12% of total operations, while genuine emergency deliveries make up only 4%. He noted that the majority of items being transported are supplies that could easily be moved using regular road transport.

The minister also highlighted concerns about cost efficiency, especially as the government reportedly owes Zipline GH¢174 million. He emphasized that taxpayers deserve clarity on whether the high operational costs match the value being provided.

“It will interest you to know some of the items they fly—items like condoms, blood donor cards, mosquito nets, food and nutrition items, adhesive tapes, syringes and needles, and even education materials such as textbooks and uniforms,” he said.

The revelation has intensified ongoing criticism of the partnership, with some stakeholders arguing that the service no longer aligns with its intended purpose. Due to financial constraints, three of Zipline’s operational centres have already shut down.

Mr. Akandoh added that the government is currently in discussions with Zipline to ensure the service delivers meaningful value and operates within a sustainable cost framework.

Source: theghanareport