U.S. Envoy tours Zipline Omenako facility, highlighting U.S.-Ghana health ties

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Rolf Olson has visited Zipline’s distribution center in Omenako, Eastern Region, to observe American innovation delivering life-saving medical supplies to hard-to-reach communities in Ghana via cutting-edge drone technology.

The visit highlighted the enduring U.S.-Ghana collaboration in health security and technological advancement, exemplified by Zipline, an American robotics company designing, manufacturing, and operating the world’s largest autonomous delivery system.

In Ghana since 2019, Zipline has completed over 800,000 deliveries, saving an estimated 10,000 lives, including 1,600 through emergency provision of snake anti-venom. Independent studies, such as one published in BMC Health Services Research examining 191 facilities in the Ashanti Region (2017-2022), show Zipline-supported sites experienced a 20% increase in antenatal visits, 26% rise in facility-based deliveries, and 56% drop in maternal deaths, outcomes driven by rapid access to blood products, vaccines, and essentials.

This partnership gained new momentum on November 25, 2025, when the U.S. Department of State announced up to $150 million in support to expand Zipline’s drone network across five African countries, including Ghana. Under a pioneering pay-for-performance model, the first of its kind from the State Department, this initiative aims to triple service from 5,000 to up to 15,000 health facilities, providing instant access for as many as 130 million people.

“This partnership is an example of the innovative, results-driven partnership at the core of the America First foreign assistance agenda,”

“With modest U.S. capital investment support, these five countries will become responsible for maintaining and continuing to invest in a transformative American-built health commodities supply chain network. By strategically deploying assistance resources to catalyze private capital, incentivize local buy-in, and champion American businesses, President Trump’s foreign assistance agenda is bringing developing economies into the 21st century and helping America win the race for the technologies of tomorrow at the same time.” Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs and Religious Freedom Jeremy Lewin said.

Since its first delivery in 2016, Zipline’s U.S.-designed system has completed 1.8 million autonomous deliveries with zero safety incidents. Research shows tens of thousands of lives saved, maternal deaths reduced by up to 56%, stockouts cut by 60%, and immunization rates boosted by 13-37 percentage points, often slashing delivery times from days to under 30 minutes.

Recent reports of operational challenges in Ghana, including discussions around outstanding payments and temporary suspensions at three distribution centers, underscore the model’s emphasis on long-term sustainability through partner government commitments. Funding is released only upon signed expansion contracts and pledges for ongoing utilization fees, projected at up to $400 million across nations, to ensure enduring impact.

The U.S. Embassy in Ghana remains engaged with authorities to advance this shared vision, reinforcing how American innovation, paired with reliable local investment, strengthens health systems, saves lives, and deepens bilateral ties.

This initiative promotes U.S. technological leadership while fostering self-reliant, equitable healthcare in partner nations, aligning with mutual goals of prosperity and resilience.

Source: Diplomatic Times