Ghana Drone Delivery Service
The Ghana Drone Delivery Service was launched on 24 April 2019, 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, Zipline International, Rudan Engineering, and Axis Drone Surveys. These were chosen out of 977 applications.[6]
Zipline[]
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.[7] The service also delivered COVID-19 test kits and this lessened the time that was spent sending them by road.[8]
How it Works[]
- Doctors place an order for the product they need.[9]
- 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.[10]
- 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[]
- Omenako[11]
- Mampong[12]
- Kukua[13]
- Sefwi Wiawso
References[]
- ^ "Drone delivery startup Zipline launches UAV medical program in Ghana". Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^ "ghana drone delivery service - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- ^ "Ministry of Health signs MoU to deploy drone technology for efficient health delivery | News | Ghana Health Service". www.ghanahealthservice.org. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- ^ "Akufo-Addo commissions Ghana's second medical drone delivery base in Ashanti Region". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- ^ Agyeman, Adwoa (19 April 2019). "Police to use drones to combat crime in Kwahu". AdomOnline.com. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
- ^ "5 Companies licensed for commercial drone services". Graphic Online. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ "Drones for medical supply - FAQs". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- ^ "Drones Are Delivering COVID-19 Tests in Ghana. Could the U.S. Be Next?". Time. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ "Drones for medical deliveries essential for Ghana – GHS". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- ^ "Ghana to commence drone delivery of essential medicines next month". www.ghananewsagency.org. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- ^ "Drones Deliver Medical Supplies in Ghana | Voice of America - English". www.voanews.com. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ "Ghana launches second drone delivery base at Asante Mampong". Graphic Online. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ "Bawumia Inspects Third Zipline Drone Distribution Centre". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- Ghana stubs
- Presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo
- Medical and health organisations based in Ghana