The controversial $12.5 million Fly Zipline contract for the acquisition of drones for the distribution of medical suppliers across the country has finally been approved by Parliament.

The contract which has been at the centre of public discussion over the past few weeks today Tuesday, December 11, got Parliamentary approval with a resounding 102 majority vote against 58 minority members who voted against the approval of the contract.

The approval of the contract gives Government the go ahead to pay Fly Zipline Inc $12,527,000 to distribute medical suppliers across the country with their drone equipment over a period of four years.

On November 6, 2018, the Public Procurement Authority gave clearance for the Government of Ghana to sole-source the contract to Zipline, a US-based company.

The move was greeted with a strong protest from the minority and some Civil Society Organizations who believe Government should have opened the tendering process up for other companies to also bid for the contract instead of the sole-sourcing approach.

The Minority early on refused to discuss the matter when the Health Committee of Parliament presented its report on the issue, stating that the agreement does not ensure value for money.

However, Government has stated that the move to get blood and the distribution of other medical suppliers by drones forms part of efforts to enhance the healthcare system.