The United States Government has announced a commitment of up to $150 million to Zipline International Inc., aiming to expand access to life-saving medical supplies, including blood, vaccines, and essential medicines, to as many as 15,000 health facilities across Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda. The announcement was made during a U.S. Embassy digital press briefing on Tuesday, December 2. This initiative is part of the U.S. Department of State’s America First Global Health Strategy, which seeks to maximize value for U.S. taxpayers by reducing waste, eliminating dependency, and ensuring development assistance aligns with U.S. foreign policy objectives. According to Jeff Graham of the U.S. Department of State, the strategy places a strong focus on delivering critical medical products to populations in remote and underserved areas. Partnering with Zipline, an American robotics and drone technology firm, is central to modernizing the U.S. approach to global health aid. Under the agreement, the U.S. will support Zipline’s expansion of advanced, American-made robotics to overcome the slow and unreliable logistics that often hinder timely medical deliveries in rural communities. Graham described the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening health systems, enabling rapid responses to disease outbreaks and emergencies, while also supporting U.S. manufacturing and job creation in partner nations. Although the U.S. contribution is described as modest, beneficiary governments will eventually take over operational responsibilities for their national health delivery networks. Zipline is set to open new distribution centers in the five participating countries, with Rwanda expected to double its daily delivery capacity, ultimately enabling the network to reach up to 130 million people across Africa. Caitlin Burton, CEO of Zipline Africa, explained that Zipline operates autonomous, all-weather drones day and night, delivering a centralized, on-demand medical supply chain that is far more efficient than traditional logistics systems. Supported by organizations like the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Zipline has demonstrated that its delivery model is both cost-effective and highly impactful. The new U.S. partnership is projected to allow Zipline to expand its reach to national scale in all five countries, creating an estimated 1,000 jobs and generating over $1 billion in annual economic gains across the partner nations. Burton emphasized Zipline’s mission to build health systems capable of ending preventable deaths from HIV, maternal mortality, and severe malnutrition by leveraging a single high-performing logistics network. Burton noted that government investments will be tailored to each country’s priorities and health needs, and that Zipline works closely with governments to identify access gaps in remote and underserved communities. “This system is meant to operate nationwide and at the scale required to deliver volumes of medical products that can actually change health outcomes. We now know how to solve challenges like maternal mortality and malnutrition, and the network is built to meet those goals,” she stated. While the U.S. provides initial capital, governments are expected to cover the predictable, long-term operating costs. The model is designed to replace multiple expensive, disease-specific programs with one unified delivery network that addresses a range of health challenges. “With this system, you’re not funding a single program or a one-off intervention. You’re ensuring that essential medical products reach patients wherever they are, including communities where distance or stigma might prevent people from seeking care,” Burton added. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

Accra’s Mayor, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has announced a new initiative that will see the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) pay individuals GH¢100 daily to help spruce up the city in preparation for the festive season. The opportunity, which specifically targets unemployed young people, was revealed by the mayor as he led a citywide exercise to paint kerbs along major roads—a move aimed at beautifying the capital and enhancing nighttime safety ahead of Christmas. Mayor Allotey encouraged interested individuals to visit the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and join the cleaning and beautification teams. Participants will receive GH¢100 a day for a period of 30 days for their work. The sanitation and beautification exercise commenced on Saturday, November 29, 2025, and involves painting kerbs along medians and road shoulders stretching from John Evans Atta Mills High Street to Independence Avenue. The effort is expected to improve visibility, eliminate dark spots, and give Accra a brighter, more welcoming appearance at night. Speaking to journalists during the operation, Mayor Allotey said the kerb painting is being combined with an intensive citywide sweeping campaign. Already, 190 personnel have been deployed across the metropolis, with plans to employ an additional 400 young people to scale up the operation and create more job opportunities. He explained that the freshly painted kerbs will significantly improve road safety by making medians and road edges easier for drivers to spot, reducing the risk of accidents on major routes. The mayor stressed that the initiative is part of the assembly’s broader commitment to ensuring Accra is clean, vibrant, and welcoming during the festive period. Mayor Allotey called on residents and business operators to support the ongoing sanitation drive by keeping their surroundings clean. During the exercise, he also cautioned a man for sweeping waste from a pharmacy frontage onto the pavement, warning that such actions are punishable by the Sanitation Court. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

Lieutenant General William Agyapong, Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), has paid a compassionate visit to military personnel recuperating at the 37 Military Hospitals after a recent vehicular accident between Salaga and Tamale. The accident, which occurred late last week, involved a military vehicle carrying duty-bound personnel. Several officers sustained injuries of varying severity and were promptly airlifted to Accra for specialised treatment. On Monday, 24 November 2025, Lt. Gen. Agyapong met with the wounded soldiers, extending the Ghana Armed Forces’ unwavering support and personally commending the hospital’s medical team for their rapid and professional response. He assured the injured officers that every effort would be made to provide them with the best possible care. The CDS also announced that a full investigation would be launched to determine the cause of the accident and to review safety protocols for troop movement and operations. The families of those injured voiced their gratitude for the visit and the ongoing commitment shown by the Armed Forces’ leadership to the welfare of its personnel. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

The Deputy Minister for Defence, Mr. Ernest Brogya Genfi, on Thursday led a high-level government delegation to visit and console the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic El-Wak Stadium stampede. Mr. Brogya Genfi was joined on the visit by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo; the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey; and several other senior government officials. The visit formed part of the government’s ongoing efforts to commiserate with the bereaved families and provide much-needed emotional and logistical support during this difficult time. Speaking on behalf of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, Mr. Brogya Genfi described the stampede as a “deeply unfortunate tragedy” that has left the entire nation in mourning. He reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to stand by the affected families and assured them that they would not be left to bear their painful loss alone. “The government stands with you in these trying moments,” Mr. Brogya Genfi stated, adding that further arrangements and support measures would be communicated to the families in due course. The government has indicated that additional announcements will be made as investigations continue and support interventions are finalised. Source: Apexnewsgh.com  

What began as a day of hope ended in heartbreak at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. The stadium, usually abuzz with the excitement of sporting events, became the scene of tragedy during an ongoing military recruitment exercise, as a stampede claimed the lives of 6 young Ghanaians and left several others critically injured. Trouble began early in the day, as thousands of hopeful applicants surged toward the stadium’s gates, desperate for a chance to enlist in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the crowd, far larger than anticipated, quickly overwhelmed security personnel. Jostling and shoving at narrow entry points soon erupted into chaos. Within minutes, the festive atmosphere gave way to panic, screams, and a frantic struggle for safety. By evening, the military confirmed that six people had died, but the death toll later rose to 6 as six more succumbed to their injuries. The bodies of the deceased were transported to the 37 Military Hospital morgue, while dozens of others, some in critical condition, were rushed to the emergency ward and Intensive Care Unit. Security forces moved swiftly to cordon off the stadium and block all major access roads, allowing rescue teams to work unimpeded. The tragic stampede occurred amidst an extended recruitment period for the Ghana Armed Forces. Originally set to close on October 31, 2025, the deadline had been extended by a week to accommodate applicants who had faced technical issues with the online portal. The extension, announced in a statement signed by Colonel Evelyn Ntiamoah Asamoah, Acting Director General of Public Relations, was intended to ensure fairness, but instead contributed to the overwhelming turnout that fateful morning. As news of the tragedy spread, questions mounted about crowd control and safety measures at large-scale recruitment events. Authorities have yet to issue a full statement on the incident, but preliminary reports suggest that inadequate crowd management and the sheer number of applicants played a significant role in the disaster. Investigations are expected to be launched to uncover the precise circumstances that led to the stampede and to prevent similar tragedies in future recruitment exercises. For now, the nation mourns the loss of twelve of its youth, victims of a system overwhelmed by demand, and of hopes that, for some, ended in heartbreak rather than a new beginning. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

At the inauguration of the Upper East Regional Committee of the Ghana AIDS Commission (ReCCOM), Mr. Donatus Akamugri Atanga, the Upper East Regional Minister, shared sobering news with the gathering. The region, he revealed, is home to 7,549 people living with HIV. Of these, 345 are new infections, which translates to a regional prevalence rate of 0.85%. But the numbers held a deeper concern. Shockingly, only 49.4% of those affected are currently receiving lifesaving antiretroviral therapy. “These numbers reveal a significant gap that we must urgently address if we are to reach our targets and end AIDS as a public health concern by 2030,” the Minister urged, his voice carrying the weight of the challenge ahead. He noted that while the overall prevalence rate remains relatively low for now, the fight is far from over. Urban centers in the region are seeing a worrying increase in new HIV cases. The Minister cautioned against complacency, pointing to the dangers posed by misinformation spread by self-styled vigilantes and traditional healers, forces that undermine efforts to keep patients on their treatment regimens. Perhaps the most daunting challenge, however, lies in the stigma and discrimination that people living with HIV continue to face. The Minister highlighted this as an area that demands strong leadership. He called for a renewed focus on intensive behavior change communication, robust partnerships with the media, and community engagement. Only through compassion, inclusion, and accurate information, he stressed, can the region hope to close the treatment gap and make real progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Source: Apexnewsgh.com