Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has raised serious concerns about the scope of operations of drone delivery company, Zipline Ghana, revealing that the firm has been transporting items beyond its original emergency-focused mandate.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, December 1, the Minister disclosed that Zipline has been delivering products such as condoms, mosquito nets, blood-donor cards, food and nutrition supplies, adhesive tapes, syringes, needles, as well as educational items including textbooks and school uniforms.

According to Mr. Akandoh, these findings indicate a major departure from the original intent of the partnership, which was designed primarily to serve hard-to-reach areas and handle emergency medical deliveries.

“The services were supposed to focus on hard-to-reach areas and emergency situations. However, upon review, hard-to-reach deliveries account for only 12% of their operations, while emergency services represent just 4%,” he stated.

He added that the wide range of non-emergency items being transported further deepens concerns about cost-efficiency and accountability.

“It will interest you to know that some of the items they fly include condoms, blood-donor cards, mosquito nets, food and nutrition items, adhesive tapes, syringes and needles, and educational materials such as textbooks and school uniforms,” the Minister revealed.

Mr. Akandoh said government is currently engaging Zipline to clarify the scope of its services and to resolve outstanding financial obligations, stressing the need to ensure value for money.

“We believe there must be value for money; therefore, we are engaging them,” he said.

His comments come amid reports that Zipline has shut down three of its operational centres due to an outstanding GH¢174 million owed by the government.