Zipline Ghana has defended the integrity of its drone delivery operations, insisting that the service remains focused on emergency, life-saving medical supplies, a mandate the company says has already saved “over 10,000 lives.”
Country Manager Daniel Kwaku Merki gave the clarification following allegations by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh that the programme was being misused to transport non-essential items such as condoms and textbooks.
Mr Merki strongly rejected the claims, stressing that Zipline’s core mission has not changed since its launch.
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“Critical life-saving commodities, which we have delivered, have saved lives in the tune of 10,000,” he said. “There are emergencies we attend to, and there are many nuances to these critical deliveries. We work with a list from the Ministry of Health of products we are mandated to deliver.”
He noted that Zipline plays no role in determining what items are dispatched, emphasising that every request is generated by the appropriate health agencies under the Ministry of Health.
“Supply continuously comes from the agencies under the Ministry of Health,” he explained. “We work with the Ministry and its agencies to ensure we make the most critical deliveries.”
Addressing concerns about non-medical items, Mr Merki maintained that such deliveries are “extremely rare,” accounting for roughly one in every 20,000 flights, and even then, they are included only as part of broader medical supply requests.
“These condoms were not a box of condoms delivered by itself. It was added in association with other commodities,” he clarified.
Zipline’s response underscores its position that the drone delivery programme remains a vital emergency healthcare lifeline, especially for remote and underserved communities where access to essential medical supplies can make the difference between life and death.
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