Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, led a government delegation to receive the shipment.
When the plane with the vaccines landed, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation-run journalist Abdul Hayi-Moomen stated, “I think the flight with the vaccines we are looking forward to has arrived.”
The vaccines were produced by the Serum Institute of India, in the Indian city of Pune, and are part of the first wave of Covid-19 vaccines to low and middle-income countries, the joint statement said.
“Today marks the historic moment for which we have planned and worked so hard,” said UNICEF Director Henrietta Fore. “With the first shipment of doses, we can deliver on the promise of the COVAX facility to ensure that people from less prosperous countries are not left behind in the race for life-saving vaccines.”
According to a statement from the Ministry of Information, the vaccines will first be administered to health professionals, people over 60 and people with underlying health problems. They also plan to obtain additional vaccines through outside agencies, the statement said.
Last month, India and the African Union announced plans for the Serum Institute to deliver 400 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Africa.