A Deputy Spokesperson to the former Vice-President, Dr Ekua Amoakoh, has faulted the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of attempting to drag Ghana’s health sector “into the dark ages” through what she describes as deliberate misinformation about the operations of medical drone-delivery project that has saved many lives
In a statement, the Deputy Spokesperson to the former Vice-President questioned whether, when a new maverick system is introduced, it is not wiser to tweak and improve it to better serve the citizenry rather than embarking on a needless smear campaign, and cited Leo Szilard’s words: “Do not destroy what you cannot create.”
She said the NDC’s recent commentary on Zipline reflects “a shameful and laughable attempt” to discredit an initiative that has improved access to essential medical supplies in remote areas. According to her, the NDC’s posture is only an attempt to conceal what she called the party’s “gross incompetence and lack of innovative policy direction” for the health sector.
Her comments come in response to remarks by the Member of Parliament for Lambussie, Dr Titus Beyuo, who disclosed findings from a review of Zipline’s operations ordered by the Minister of Health.
Speaking on Adom TV on November 26, 2025, Dr Beyuo said the review uncovered instances where Zipline allegedly used its drones to deliver non-essential items such as condoms, uniforms and textbooks.
He claimed that the primary purpose of Zipline’s services was to deliver essential medical supplies to hard-to-reach areas, yet the company was only serving 12 percent of facilities in those communities.
‘Bogus report’
But Dr Amoakoh maintained that the narrative being circulated is misleading. She explained that part of the review referenced a study conducted by Prof Kenu of the School of Public Health, which noted shortages of certain medical commodities at Zipline distribution centres.
However, she stressed that these shortages were the result of inadequate supplies at the regional medical stores, a responsibility of the Ghana Health Service.
“It is surprising that a whole professor is spinning this study for political reasons and personal gain,” she said, questioning the motives behind the interpretation of the findings.
She further described the report being used to justify potential policy reversals as “absolutely bogus,” arguing that it is merely another excuse to undermine a system that has proven effective.
“This is just another cheap excuse for the minister to drag us centuries back, cancel the project, and create room for their own interests, simply because there is no ‘chop chop’ for them — just like we saw with LLIMS,” she stated.
She warned that attempts to roll back successful innovations in the health sector would ultimately hurt citizens who depend on timely medical deliveries, especially in difficult-to-access areas.
Zipline’s report
According to Zipline’s report, it operations have demonstrated significant impact and cost-effectiveness: facilities supported by Zipline in the Ashanti Region saw a 56% reduction in maternal mortality, while antenatal visits increased by 20% due to improved product availability and public confidence.
Across Ghana, routine immunization rates rose by 21 percentage points, and Zipline-supported facilities spent 58% less on product pickup compared to non-supported facilities.
The cost per additional fully immunized child was just $0.66, making Zipline more cost-effective than other vaccination interventions.
Crucial role
She also emphasised the crucial role Zipline plays in Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure, stating that the company delivers essential medical supplies that save lives, expand access, and strengthen the national health system.
She noted that Zipline delivers products that are requested by healthcare providers and are supplied and authorized by the Government of Ghana.
She clarified that among the millions of products delivered, condoms account for only one in every 20,000 deliveries, a tiny fraction of the total products delivered.
She explained that these deliveries occur only when government health facilities request them and are part of standard public health supply chains.
According to her, Zipline serves more than 3,100 health facilities and community health worker drop sites, reaching over 19 million Ghanaians with hundreds of deliveries every day.
She added that through this extensive network, millions of people have immediate access to a world-class, on-demand pharmacy, whether for emergency medicines, vaccines, blood products, family planning commodities or other essential items provided by the government.
Dr Amoakoh mentioned that over the last six years, in partnership with the Government of Ghana, Zipline has delivered measurable and independently validated improvements in healthcare outcomes.
She stated that the company has contributed to a 56.4 percent reduction in maternal mortality in supported districts, a twenty-two-fold increase in access to essential health products, a 60 percent reduction in medicine stockouts, and 60 percent fewer referrals to distant facilities due to lack of supplies.
Public-private partnership
She attributed these achievements to a strong, collaborative public-private partnership designed to strengthen Ghana’s health system and serve communities across the country.
Dr Amoakoh further explained that Zipline operates six distribution centers in Omenako, Mpanya, Vobsi, Sefwi Wiawso, Anum and Krachi, distributing essential medicines, malaria medication, routine and novel childhood vaccines, emergency treatments for dog and snakebites, blood products, and livestock vaccines.
She noted that 100 percent of the products delivered by Zipline are requested by healthcare providers and provided by the government, and that the company employs over 100 trained Ghanaians in high-tech careers across the country.
Dr Amoakoh highlighted that Zipline’s work has saved over 9,600 lives, including more than 1,600 from snakebites, demonstrating the company’s significant impact on the health and well-being of Ghanaians.
Real impactful change
She said Zipline’s operations represent “real impactful change” that continues to save lives and improve access to essential medical supplies, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.
According to her, since 2022, Zipline’s medical drone delivery network has saved 6,341 lives through emergency deliveries, including blood products and snake antivenom. She noted that the service has become an indispensable part of Ghana’s health infrastructure, bridging the gap between remote facilities and critical medical supplies.
She stated that the Government of Ghana has delivered more than 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, out of which Zipline alone transported over 2.8 million doses by drone. This, she said, demonstrates the vital role technology continues to play in Ghana’s public health delivery.
Beyond the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Dr. Amoakoh mentioned that Zipline has made more than 550,000 drone deliveries nationwide. She explained that Zipline now distributes vaccines, blood and blood products, essential medicines, and diagnostic specimens to over 3,000 health facilities across Ghana, ensuring swift and reliable delivery regardless of geographical location.
She also cited Zipline’s critical intervention during the Anthrax outbreak in June 2023. Working in partnership with the Veterinary Services Directorate and with support from USAID, Zipline undertook an emergency distribution of 200,000 Anthrax vaccines across 15 districts in Northern Ghana.
According to her, this rapid and effective response helped to curtail the spread of the disease and reduce its socio-economic impact, reinforcing the importance of technology-driven solutions in public health emergencies.
Boosted childhood vaccination
She noted that in areas served by Zipline, vaccination rates have increased by an average of 21 percentage points across all routine childhood vaccines. She added that health facilities relying solely on Zipline have reduced stockout durations by 60 percent, compared to those supplied through traditional means.
“Facilities served by Zipline have also recorded a 42 percent reduction in missed vaccination opportunities,” she said, describing the drone delivery system as a tangible example of how innovation can enhance efficiency and save lives.
She emphasised that these achievements are a testament to the foresight and leadership of Dr. Bawumia, whose commitment to digital transformation has reshaped public service delivery in Ghana.
She reiterated that under his leadership, technological innovation has not only modernized healthcare logistics but also expanded access to essential medicines and vaccines, even in the most remote areas of the country.
“Dr Bawumia’s vision for a digitally empowered Ghana continues to bear fruit,” she said, “and the success of Zipline is just one of many examples showing how innovation can drive national progress and improve lives.”
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