By: Ashiadey Dotse
Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has revealed that the government is paying more than $500,000 every month for Zipline’s medical drone delivery services under a take-or-pay contract signed in 2018.
Speaking during the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, December 1, 2025, Dr. Akandoh explained that the contract, which took effect in 2019, requires the state to pay $88,000 per centre each month regardless of how many deliveries are made. With six operational centres across the country, the monthly bill exceeds half a million dollars.
He described the agreement as a sole-sourced contract that binds government to continuous payments. “For every month, government is supposed to pay $88,000 per centre. So with six centres, we are paying a little over $500,000 every month,” he said.
Mr. Akandoh stressed that while government is investing heavily in healthcare, contracts such as the take-or-pay Zipline agreement continue to impose significant monthly costs on the state.
The Minister provided the clarification while discussing broader reforms in the health sector, including improvements in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). He noted that after government uncapped the NHIS, prompt payments have resumed, restoring confidence among service providers. NHIS coverage has also increased from 18 million to about 20 million people in under a year.
Mr. Akandoh further announced that government will introduce free primary healthcare next year, supported by GH¢1.5 billion. This intervention will focus on preventive, promotive and early-detection services, all under the NHIS.
He also highlighted the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, including cancer, hypertension and diabetes. To address this, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Cares, has been activated with GH¢2.3 billion and has begun supporting patient care.
Addressing workforce concerns, he said 13,500 nurses have been placed on payroll this year, while 700 medical doctors are being deployed across the country, especially to underserved districts.
He added that GH¢500 million in nursing training allowances has already been paid, with an additional GH¢231 million scheduled for early December.
