Dr Nana Ayew Afriye is Member of Parliament for Effiduase/Asokore
The Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, has expressed deep concern over what he describes as government’s “worrying inaction” in preventing the decommissioning of several Zipline medical drone distribution centres across the country.
Zipline, which has become a critical component of Ghana’s emergency health delivery system, transports blood and other essential medical supplies to hard-to-reach communities. But according to Dr Ayew Afriye, the company is now being forced to scale down operations due to the government’s inability to settle
accumulated debts.
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Speaking during the debate on the 2026 Budget Statement presented by the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Effiduase-Asokore legislator questioned why an administration that came into office on the promise of “resetting the nation” would allow such a vital health service provider to face operational collapse.
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“As we speak now, the government owes Zipline about GH¢175 million, yet only GH¢120 million was allocated in the 2026 budget. This action is clearly intended to frustrate Zipline and gradually pave the way for decommissioning,” he stated.
Dr Ayew Afriye revealed that three distribution centres — with designations 4, 5 and 6 — have already been affected. He added that the Anum Distribution Centre has been fully decommissioned, cutting off emergency blood supply to the entire Volta Region, parts of the Eastern Region, and the Afram Plains.
He further disclosed that the situation is equally dire in the western corridor. The Sefwi Wiawso Distribution Centre, which serves the Western North Region, the wider Western Region, parts of the Central Region, and sections of the Ashanti Region, is also shutting down.
In addition, he noted that the Krachi Distribution Centre is being closed, a development he says will affect parts of the Savannah Region and all of the Oti Region and additional sections of the Afram Plains.
The Ranking Member warned that the government’s continued failure to honour its financial obligations to Zipline poses catastrophic risks to public health.
“Mr Speaker, people are going to die as a result of government’s inability to pay this critical service provider. Is this what we call resetting Ghana?” he questioned.
Dr Ayew Afriye urged the government to immediately settle Zipline’s outstanding arrears in order to restore full operations and avert preventable deaths, stressing that drone-delivered blood services have saved countless lives, especially in rural communities.
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