Ghana has received major international recognition in the aviation sector after Accra International Airport (AIA) won two prestigious awards at the 8th Airports Council International (ACI) World Airport Experience Summit in Istanbul, Turkey.
The airport was recognised as Best Airport at Departures – Africa in the 2–5 million passengers category and also received the Customer Experience Accredited Airport – Level 1 recognition.
The awards, presented at the summit held from August 31 to September 4, 2026, place Accra International Airport among airports recognised globally for excellence in passenger service and customer experience.
Accra Airport receives major international recognition [Background]
The recognition is a significant achievement for Ghana’s aviation industry and the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), which manages the country’s major airports.
The Best Airport at Departures – Africa award places Accra International Airport among the leading airports on the continent in its passenger-volume category.
The airport also secured Level 1 accreditation under the ACI World Airport Customer Experience Accreditation Programme.
According to GACL, the accreditation evaluates airports on their approach to customer experience management, including staff development, stakeholder engagement and efforts to improve the passenger journey.
GACL celebrates teamwork behind the achievement
GACL Managing Director Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare described the awards as an honour and privilege for Ghana.
She attributed the achievement to teamwork and collaboration involving multiple stakeholders across the airport ecosystem.
She also congratulated staff at Accra International Airport and urged them to maintain the standards that earned the airport the international recognition.
Accra Airport Wins Two Global Awards in Major Boost for Ghana –
What the awards mean for Ghana
The recognition could strengthen Ghana’s position as an important aviation and travel hub in West Africa.
International airport rankings and customer-experience awards can influence how travellers perceive destinations, while also encouraging airports to maintain high standards in passenger service.
For Ghana, the achievement comes at a time when the country is seeking to strengthen tourism, business travel and its wider international connectivity.
The awards also highlight the importance of customer service beyond infrastructure, with airports increasingly competing on the quality of the overall passenger experience.
Accra Airport joins global airport excellence conversation
The ACI World Airport Experience Summit brought together leading airports and aviation stakeholders to discuss the future of passenger experience.
More than 100 top-performing airports received Airport Service Quality awards and Customer Experience Accreditations during the summit.
The summit focused on the changing expectations of travellers and how airports can put passengers at the centre of their operations.
For Accra International Airport, the latest recognition provides an opportunity to build on its progress and continue improving the passenger experience.
Accra Airport Wins Two Global Awards in Major Boost for Ghana – Key details at a glance
- Airport: Accra International Airport
- Country: Ghana
- Awards: 2
- First award: Best Airport at Departures – Africa
- Category: 2–5 million passengers
- Second award: Customer Experience Accredited Airport – Level 1
- Event: ACI World Airport Experience Summit
- Location: Istanbul, Turkey
- Summit dates: August 31–September 4, 2026
- Airport operator: Ghana Airports Company Limited
Frequently Asked Questions
What awards did Accra International Airport win?
Accra International Airport won Best Airport at Departures – Africa in the 2–5 million passengers category and Customer Experience Accredited Airport – Level 1.
Why is the Accra Airport award important?
The awards recognise the airport’s performance in passenger service and customer experience and provide international recognition for Ghana’s aviation sector.
Who operates Accra International Airport?
The airport is operated by Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL).
The two international awards provide a major boost for Ghana’s aviation industry and demonstrate the progress being made in passenger service at Accra International Airport.
With international travel becoming increasingly competitive, the recognition gives GACL another reason to continue investing in service quality and improving the experience of passengers travelling through Ghana.
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