Ghana’s opposition lawmakers on Tuesday accused the government of crippling the country’s medical drone delivery programme, warning that three Zipline centres are being shut down because of unpaid debts totalling GH¢175 million.
The Minority said the closures pose a serious threat to public health, as the affected centres supply blood, vaccines and other emergency medical commodities to remote communities.
Raising the issue during debate on the 2026 budget, Dr Ayew Afriyie, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, criticised the government for failing to settle its obligations to the company or engage it over the crisis.
“Zipline is decommissioning three of its centres, Centres 4, 5 and 6. There has been no engagement and an inability on the part of the government to provide funds,” he said.
He added that the budgetary allocation to the drone operator was far below what was required. “The allocation for Zipline was only GH¢20 million, even though the government currently owes the company GH¢175 million,” he said.
