Ghana Partners with Zipline to Keep Health Supplies Moving Despite USAID Issues

The government of Ghana is making smart moves to protect its health system during a tough time.
With the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) facing supply chain problems, Ghana has teamed up with Zipline, the world’s largest autonomous delivery service, to keep vital medicines and health products flowing to people across the country.

And here’s the best part: It’s happening without costing the government any extra money.

Thanks to Zipline’s fleet of fast, reliable drones, Ghana can deliver important supplies like malaria medicine, painkillers, cough treatments, worm medications, and nutrition supplements straight to hospitals and clinics — even in hard-to-reach areas. When USAID paused many of its projects for review, Ghanaian health leaders acted quickly. They made sure that critical medical items, especially for malaria care (which is becoming a bigger concern due to changing weather patterns), could still reach the people who need them.

Zipline already had several drone hubs operating around Ghana. Each hub can launch hundreds of drone deliveries every day. So instead of worrying about complicated transport plans or waiting for big trucks, the government simply sends supplies through Zipline’s on-demand service. At the moment, Zipline is mainly delivering across the Northeast, Northern, and Eastern Regions. But there are talks to expand their support even further. In fact, in the past two months alone, Zipline hubs have boosted their deliveries by 20–50% to meet growing demand! This new approach has allowed Regional Medical Stores to stock more products with Zipline. That way, supplies can be delivered directly to any clinic or health center whenever they’re needed — faster and more efficiently than ever before.

What’s even better?
By using Zipline’s services, Ghana is saving money.
Instead of paying separately for USAID logistics and other expensive transport options, the government is now relying on a simple flat monthly fee it already had with Zipline. People on the frontlines are seeing the benefits, too.
Comfort Addai Fofie, a midwife at Jadema Health Centre in the Northeast Region, praised Zipline’s support, saying,

“Zipline’s deliveries of essential medicines have really helped us do our jobs better. Their quick service and teamwork mean a lot to us.”

Daniel Kwaku Merki, the Head of Zipline Ghana, also shared his excitement, noting,

“Ghana’s quick actions show how committed it is to building a strong, smart health system. Working together like this turns challenges into opportunities.”

By centralizing deliveries and making smart use of Zipline’s technology, Ghana is strengthening its healthcare infrastructure and getting better results for its citizens, without extra spending.
It’s also a step forward toward the Mahama Administration’s bigger vision for economic growth and better services for all Ghanaians.