Prez Mahama arrives in Belarus, lays wreath at victory monument on state visit

President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Minsk, the capital of the Republic of Belarus, for a five-day state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in agriculture 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 lay a wreath at the Victory Monument. The ceremony honoured Belarusian and Soviet Army soldiers who lost their lives liberating the country during World War II.

According to a statement from the Presidency, the wreath-laying was witnessed by the Governor of Minsk, Vladimir Kukharev, officials of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, and Ghana’s Ambassador to Russia, Dr Koma Steem Jehu-Appiah.

Tour of agricultural exhibition

President Mahama later visited Belagro 2026, an agricultural exhibition featuring the latest agricultural equipment, heavy farming and mining machinery, and other industrial sectors.

The President toured the Minsk Tractor Works product lineup, Minskyekspo ZAO displays, Bobruiskagromash fertiliser equipment, and a massive BelAZ-75710 haul truck – one of the largest dump trucks in the world.

President: Visit feeds into agriculture revolution vision

In brief remarks, President Mahama said the visit, made at the invitation of the Belarusian President, was timely as it feeds directly into his government’s vision to revolutionise Ghana’s agriculture sector by tapping into Belarus’s experience.

While praising the quality of the machinery on display, the President emphasised that flawless technical support, spare parts availability and after-sales service are strict prerequisites before any final transactions can be concluded.

Focus on bilateral cooperation

The state visit is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation between Ghana and Belarus, particularly in agriculture, machinery manufacturing and industrial development. Discussions are expected to centre on potential partnerships that could see Belarusian agricultural equipment and expertise deployed to enhance Ghana’s farming productivity.

The visit forms part of President Mahama’s broader agenda to modernise Ghana’s agriculture sector and reduce the country’s reliance on food imports. Belarus, known for its highly developed agricultural machinery manufacturing sector, has long been recognised for its expertise in tractor production and heavy equipment engineering.

Further engagements on the President’s itinerary are expected to include high-level meetings with Belarusian officials and business leaders.