Parliament has witnessed renewed tensions over the operations of Zipline Ghana, the medical drone delivery company, as Majority Leader Hon. Mahama Ayariga called for the immediate termination of the government’s contract with the firm.
The call comes amid revelations that the government owes the company GHS 175 million, prompting the shutdown of three of its operational centres.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Ayariga described the contract as an “unnecessary financial burden,” on the state and criticised the government’s management of the arrangement. He argued that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) possesses the technical capacity to operate its own drones to deliver blood, vaccines, and other critical medical supplies.
“It’s a total waste of money. The most expensive drones don’t even go beyond twenty thousand dollars. By now, we would have had drones for every district in this country managed by the Ghana Health Service. Let’s do a total calculation on how much money we have wasted on this Zipline contract”
“I call for a cancellation of the contract. The contract should be cancelled. The Ghana Health Service should develop its own in-house capacity to deliver the blood through its own drones”
Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Majority Leader
The controversy arose after the Minority in Parliament raised alarms over the impact of Zipline’s operational disruptions. According to the caucus, the company’s shutdown of Centres 4, 5, and 6 threatens the timely delivery of essential medical supplies to underserved communities, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
Dr. Ayew Afriyie, Ranking Member on the Health Committee, criticised the government for its failure to honour financial commitments, noting that the 2025 budget allocation of GHS 20 million was grossly inadequate compared to the GHS 175 million owed.
“There has been no engagement and an inability on the part of the government to provide funds,” Dr. Afriyie said, highlighting the imminent public health risks posed by the shutdowns.
Debt Confirmation
Zipline Ghana confirmed that it is in discussions with the government to recover the outstanding arrears, emphasising that a resolution is necessary to continue serving the nation. The company stressed the critical role it plays in Ghana’s health delivery system, transporting blood, vaccines, and other life-saving medical supplies across the country.
“Ultimately, what we want to achieve is a resolution so that we can deliver our services to all Ghanaians. We are trying to have a financially sustainable business, and we need a partnership with the government that allows us to support them on their healthcare mandate”
Daniel Kwaku Merki, Country Director of Zipline
The shutdowns have sparked widespread concern in Parliament, with lawmakers warning that continued delays could have grave consequences for public health.
Opposition members argued that the government’s inability to clear the arrears threatens not only the operations of Zipline but the very delivery of essential health services to citizens in remote districts.
Hon. Ayariga’s call to terminate the contract ignited further debate on the future of drone-based medical deliveries in Ghana. While some parliamentarians support an in-house GHS-managed system to reduce dependence on private providers, others stressed the importance of ensuring continuity of service for communities that rely heavily on Zipline’s network.
The NDC government has yet to make a public statement on the Majority Leader’s demand, especially as the contract with Zipline was entered into by the erstwhile NPP administration, but the issue is expected to dominate discussions in the coming parliamentary sessions.
The unfolding situation underscores a broader concern over financial accountability and operational oversight in partnerships between the state and private health service providers.
As Parliament debates the fate of Zipline’s contract, the immediate priority remains clear: ensuring uninterrupted delivery of medical supplies to protect public health and maintain the trust of Ghanaians in essential healthcare services.
The resolution of this dispute will have far-reaching implications for state-private partnerships in the healthcare sector and the government’s approach to managing critical services in future.
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