The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Accra, Ghana, on Friday, May 8, 2026, joined international diplomats, humanitarian agencies, development partners, and global stakeholders in commemorating World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra.
The event, hosted by the Ghana Red Cross Society, brought together representatives from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of global efforts to promote humanitarian values, emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction, and coordinated global response systems.
Qatar Embassy Representation
The Qatar Embassy was represented by the Deputy to the Ambassador, His Excellency Imam Saleh Rashid Al-Mansouri, who attended on behalf of the Ambassador of Qatar to Ghana. His participation formed part of broader international observances aimed at strengthening diplomatic and humanitarian cooperation between nations and relief organizations.
The event also marked Ghana’s maiden hosting of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day celebration, highlighting the country’s increasing visibility and active participation in global humanitarian dialogue and disaster management initiatives.
Qatar’s Humanitarian Commitment
Speakers at the event highlighted the consistent humanitarian contributions of Qatar through various international relief and development initiatives. The Qatar Government has been widely recognized for its sustained support to communities affected by conflict, natural disasters, displacement crises, and humanitarian emergencies across the world.
In Ghana, the Qatar Charity field office has previously played a significant role in supporting victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage floods, particularly in communities within the Aveyime Camp area in the North Tongu Constituency of the Volta Region. These interventions included the distribution of essential food supplies, non-food relief items, and emergency support services, coordinated by Country Director Hasan Ali Owda, to help affected families recover from the disaster.
Global Humanitarian Impact Through Qatar Charity
On the international stage, humanitarian initiatives led by Qatar Charity have received recognition from global institutions, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
During the 2020 World Refugee Day commemoration, UNICEF acknowledged Qatar Charity’s substantial contribution of approximately $20 million, dedicated to education support, child protection, and welfare programs for Syrian refugees and other displaced children hosted in Turkiye.
UNICEF representatives in the Gulf region, including Eltayeb Edam, noted that the intervention was particularly critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when global attention was focused on health emergencies. The support helped protect vulnerable children from risks such as school dropout, child labour, and early marriage.
The initiative reportedly contributed to the enrollment of over 680,000 refugee children in schools, while also addressing the educational needs of hundreds of thousands of children who were previously out of school.
Recognition of Humanitarian Volunteers
This year’s World Red Cross Day celebration in Accra also featured the presentation of awards to dedicated Ghana Red Cross volunteers across all sixteen (16) administrative regions of Ghana. The recognition honored their commitment, sacrifice, and continuous service in supporting emergency response and community-based humanitarian work.
Strengthening Global Solidarity
The event concluded with renewed calls for stronger international cooperation, shared responsibility, and sustained partnerships among governments, diplomatic missions, and humanitarian organizations.
Participants emphasized that global solidarity remains essential in addressing evolving humanitarian challenges, improving disaster response systems, and ensuring timely assistance to vulnerable populations worldwide. Ghana Red Cross Society Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)