Emirates have been awarded one of the highest honors in Ghana for its role in providing medical supplies and humanitarian aid to Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Presidential Honor for Distinguished Service was given to Emirates at the Ghana National Honor Awards 2023 held at the Accra International Conference Center.
Emirates Cargo airlifted and distributed 62 tonnes of COVID-19 vaccine doses to Ghana during the pandemic. Worldwide, it transported 4,200 tonnes of vaccines, surpassing 1 billion doses, to over 80 destinations on 2,000 Emirates flights, with two-thirds transported to developing countries.
Emirates also supported the transport of equipment donated by China's Jack Ma Foundation to the government of Ghana. The foundation donated medical supplies to the government, which included 18,900 test kits, 3,700 protective suits, 3,700 protective face masks, 9,500 pairs of gloves, 36 forehead thermometers, and 12 ventilators.
At the height of the pandemic, Emirates operated 12 repatriation flights from its hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Accra. It brought back more than 3,000 Ghanaian citizens, residents, and others from more than 31 cities seeking to return to Ghana from across its network.
Emirates has been operating flights to Ghana for the past 19 years, supporting the country's trade and tourism development by carrying visitors into the country and opening trade lanes for businesses and exporters. Today, the airline operates a daily non-stop service between Accra and Dubai.