Ghana Drone Delivery Service Explained

The Ghana Drone Delivery Service was launched on, to deliver medical supplies within designated areas in Ghana with the use of drones.^{[1] [2]}

Zipline in partnership with the Ghana Health Service operates 24 hours a day.^[3] The President, Nana Akufo Addo commissioned the second based delivery at Mampong in the Ashanti Region.^[4]

The Ghana Police Service has adopted drone technology to complement the work of officers on the ground. Drone technology will enable the police force to detect and combat crime.^[5]

By November 2020, five companies had been commissioned to provide drone services in the country. They are SKT Aeroshutter, Rocketmine Aerial Data Solutions,^[6] Zipline International, Rudan Engineering, and Axis Drone Surveys. These were chosen out of 977 applications.^[7]

Zipline

See main article: Zipline (drone delivery).

Zipline is a USA-based medical drone delivery company operating in Rwanda and now Ghana. The first distribution center opened in Omenako in April 2019. Medical products -- including blood, plasma, medicines, and vaccines -- are stored centrally at Zipline's distribution centers and distributed quickly to hospitals and clinics.^[8] The service also delivered COVID-19 test kits and this lessened the time that was spent sending them by road.^[9]

How it Works

• Doctors place an order for the product they need.^[10]
• Zipline operators package the product into the drone which then launches into the air, flying 100km/hour. The drones are fully autonomous and battery-powered.^[11]
• The drone flies over the ordering-hospital or clinic and drops the package mid-air. The package floats down, using a parachute to slow its momentum, and the drone flies back to the Zipline distribution center to be reloaded.

Delivery Centers

1. Omenako^[12]
2. Mampong^[13]
3. Kukua^[14]
4. Sefwi Wiawso

References

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Notes and References

1. News: Drone delivery startup Zipline launches UAV medical program in Ghana . 2019-05-20.
2. Web site: ghana drone delivery service - Google Search. www.google.com. 2020-02-01.
3. Web site: Ministry of Health signs MoU to deploy drone technology for efficient health delivery News Ghana Health Service. www.ghanahealthservice.org. 2019-04-17.
4. Web site: Akufo-Addo commissions Ghana's second medical drone delivery base in Ashanti Region. www.ghanaweb.com. 2020-02-01.
5. Web site: Police to use drones to combat crime in Kwahu. Agyeman. Adwoa. 2019-04-19. AdomOnline.com. en-US. 2019-04-19.
6. Web site: Rocketmine-the Drone Service Provider For Enterprise . 2022-03-01 . Rocketmine . en-US.
7. Web site: 5 Companies licensed for commercial drone services. 2020-11-27. Graphic Online. en-gb.
8. Web site: Drones for medical supply - FAQs. www.myjoyonline.com. 2019-04-17.
9. Drones Are Delivering COVID-19 Tests in Ghana. Could the U.S. Be Next?. 2020-11-27. Time.
10. Web site: Drones for medical deliveries essential for Ghana – GHS. www.ghanaweb.com. en. 2019-04-17.
11. Web site: Ghana to commence drone delivery of essential medicines next month. www.ghananewsagency.org. 2019-04-17.
12. Web site: Drones Deliver Medical Supplies in Ghana Voice of America - English. 2020-09-26. www.voanews.com. en.
13. Web site: Ghana launches second drone delivery base at Asante Mampong. 2020-09-26. Graphic Online. en-gb.
14. Web site: Bawumia Inspects Third Zipline Drone Distribution Centre. 2020-09-26. Modern Ghana. en.