The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has described the performance of Zipline Ghana’s medical drone delivery service as unsuccessful.
The company, he said, is currently delivering less than 20 per cent of the core responsibilities for which it was engaged.
According to the Health Minister, only about 10 per cent of Zipline’s current services are targeted at hard-to-reach areas, while just four per cent relate to emergency services.
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He disclosed this in Parliament on Wednesday while responding to questions from the Member of Parliament for Suame, John Darko, on the Ministry of Health’s engagement with Zipline and measures being taken to ensure the effective and continuous operation of the medical drone delivery service.
The Minister explained that the figures raised serious questions about whether the company’s medical drone delivery service is fulfilling the primary objectives for which the government agreed with the company.
“Success is subjective. I have clearly indicated on this floor that they are not performing more than 20 per cent of their core responsibility. How will I describe this operation as being a success?” Mr Akandoh asked.
The Health Minister said the original rationale behind deploying Zipline was to provide emergency medical supplies and reach communities that are difficult to access through conventional transportation.
However, he told Parliament that only about 10 per cent of Zipline’s current services are targeted at hard-to-reach areas, while just four per cent constitute emergency deliveries.
This, he said, means more than 80 per cent of the services currently provided by Zipline are not directly targeted at the core reasons for which the company was brought on board.
The Government is therefore engaging Zipline to refocus its operations on emergency medical supplies, hard-to-reach communities, geographically cut-off areas, and locations affected by natural disasters.
Mr Akandoh explained that the Ministry of Health signed a service agreement with Fly Zipline Ghana Limited on December 11, 2018, to facilitate the emergency delivery of blood and health products to selected public health facilities.
The agreement initially covered four distribution centres for four years.
On December 15, 2020, the Ministry and Zipline amended the agreement, extending the duration from four years to eight years and expanding the number of distribution centres.
The amended agreement is expected to expire in September 2027.
On whether the Government would extend the agreement, the Minister indicated that the decision would depend on factors and considerations brought to his attention by the Ministry.
Zipline centres decommissioned
The Minister disclosed that Zipline had previously operated from six distribution centres across the country.
These included Omenako/Suhum in the Eastern Region, Mampong in the Ashanti Region, Vobsi/Walewale in the North East Region, Sefwi Wiawso in the Western Region, Anum Boso in the Eastern Region, and Kete Krachi in the Oti Region.
Three distribution centres, he said, were unilaterally decommissioned by Zipline in October 2025. It is currently operating from only three centres: Omenako/Suhum in the Eastern Region, Mampong in the Ashanti Region, and Vobsi/Walewale in the North East Region.
Mr Akandoh disclosed that, as of March 2026, the Ministry of Health owed the company, although some payments had since been made, and assured that the Ministry has taken steps to mobilise funds to settle the outstanding amount.
The Ministry has also held several meetings with Zipline to explore an amicable way forward and address concerns surrounding its operations.
With the agreement set to expire in September 2027, the government will have to determine whether to extend the partnership, renegotiate its terms, or explore alternative approaches to emergency medical delivery.
For now, the Ministry says it is engaging Zipline to ensure that its operations are refocused on the areas where the service can have the greatest impact.