Zipline aims to grow footprints with diversified offerings

The General Manager of Zipline Ghana, Mawuli Atiemo says the company will be looking to consolidate its increasing footprints in the aerial delivery space with the introduction of home deliveries and e-commerce.

According to Mr.Atiemo, the next phase for the company as it celebrates four years of establishment in Ghana is to bring “closer to more people”, it currently undertakes most of its activities at the countryside but they intend to do more home deliveries, city deliveries -which he reckons will disrupt the industry and logistics supply it has. “Wherever you are, whatever you need, you should be able to get it at the comfort of your home, that is what the future looks like for us.”

Speaking to journalists to mark four years of its operations in Ghana, Mr. Atiemo said “In terms of diversi cation we are currently exploring other avenues such as agriculture – we currently are doing vaccination in humans, we are looking into doing in animals as well, with the veterinary services directorate in the pilot to explore the possibility for vaccination for poultry, ruminants.

We also exploring the possibility of arti cial insemination for pig production in Ghana -so these are avenues we looking at, there is also

By Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg

opportunity to look into other delivery models, support other services logistically -postal services. “

A Deputy Minister of Health, Mahama Asei Seini, encouraged Zipline to diversify in order to stay competitive. To him, the country should begin to look at the capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles extending beyond healthcare and ways to solve problems in other industries. He adds that, the world is envisioning the endless possibilities that drone technology can unlock in various industries and how it can bridge access gaps in agriculture, disaster management and other logistics needs.

He also indicated that government is keen to continue its support for Zipline, “As a government-supported ministry, we are poised to continue to create an enabling environment for Zipline to function while optimizing standard operating procedures to be more focused at underserved populations.”

The US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer commended the e orts of Zipline which she says has bolstered bilateral health assistance.

For her, “when we have partnerships for impact as today, we create prosperity, security and jobs in both Ghana and United States and that is a very powerful thing.”

She also disclosed that the US government [Trade and Development Agency] has signed a grant with Zipline earlier this year to fund a feasibility study to develop infrastructure for the rapid delivery via drones of medicines and commercial goods across Ghana and West Africa.”

In all this, she adds the e orts demonstrates United States strong commitment to Ghana and the health of its people.

Zipline was launched in Ghana in 2019 as a medical drone delivery service and has followed it up four years on to set up six centres, three in Nigeria but it is hoping to expand to ve by end of year, one in Kenya, one in Ivory Coast but management is looking to add two before end of year, and according to management there have been invitations from other countries but for now, they are focusing on Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Kenya.

In 2019, Zipline made an average of 375 deliveries per month. Over the years, average monthly deliveries have increased by 44 times, reaching 17,000 in 2023.

Today, Zipline employs more than 200 Ghanaians and has made over 350,000 deliveries to health facilities across 13 regions.

Zipline deliveries are seven times(7x) the speed of traditional automobile deliveries.