Prez Mahama Arrives in Belarus on Five-Day State Visit Focused on Agriculture and Industrial Partnerships
President John Dramani Mahama has touched down in Minsk on a five-day state visit to the Republic of Belarus, signalling Ghana’s intent to deepen bilateral ties with the Eastern European nation — particularly in the areas of agriculture, machinery manufacturing and industrial development.
The President was received at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Karankevich and a delegation of senior Belarusian officials before proceeding to the Victory Monument, where he laid a wreath in solemn tribute to the Belarusian and Soviet Army soldiers who gave their lives liberating the country during World War II.
The ceremony was attended by the Governor of Minsk, Vladimir Kukharev, officials of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, and Ghana’s Ambassador to Russia, Dr Koma Steem Jehu-Appiah.
Agriculture Takes Centre Stage
Following the wreath-laying, President Mahama joined Deputy Prime Minister Karankevich on a tour of Belagro 2026, a major agricultural exhibition showcasing the latest advances in farming equipment, heavy machinery and industrial technology.
The President inspected an impressive array of exhibits, including the Minsk Tractor Works product lineup, displays from Minskyekspo ZAO, fertiliser equipment from Bobruiskagromash, and the colossal BelAZ-75710 haul truck — one of the largest dump trucks ever built.
In brief remarks at the exhibition, President Mahama described his visit as timely, saying it aligns directly with his government’s ambition to transform Ghana’s agricultural sector by drawing on Belarus’s deep well of experience and technical expertise.
He praised the quality of the machinery on display but made clear that any procurement decisions would be conditional on reliable after-sales service, readily available spare parts and dependable technical support.
“Flawless technical support, spare parts availability and after-sales service are strict prerequisites for final transactions,” he said.
The Bigger Picture
The state visit forms part of President Mahama’s broader push to modernise Ghana’s farming sector and reduce the country’s dependence on food imports. Belarus, widely recognised for its world-class tractor production and heavy equipment engineering capabilities, presents a compelling partner in that endeavour.
High-level meetings with Belarusian officials and business leaders are expected to follow as the visit progresses, with discussions anticipated to focus on potential partnerships that could see Belarusian agricultural machinery and expertise deployed across Ghana’s farming landscape.
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