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President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to modernising its agricultural sector and achieving food self-sufficiency following a visit to one of Belarus’ largest agro-processing facilities during his ongoing state visit to the Eastern European nation.

On the second day of his official trip, President Mahama travelled to the industrial city of Brest, where he explored advanced agro-industrial technologies and held discussions aimed at fostering partnerships to support Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda.

The President was received by the Governor of Brest, Piotr Alexsandrovich Parkhomchik, alongside senior officials of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.

At the centre of the visit was a tour of one of Belarus’ leading dairy processing companies, renowned for its large-scale production of baby food, milk, cheese and milk powder for both domestic consumption and export markets.

Accompanied by his Special Aide and Advisor, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, and Ghana’s Ambassador to Moscow, Dr Jehu-Appiah, President Mahama observed the facility’s state-of-the-art production systems and quality control processes, which have helped position Belarus among the world’s leading exporters of dairy products.

The visit forms part of broader efforts by the Ghanaian government to identify practical solutions and partnerships capable of boosting agricultural productivity, enhancing food processing and reducing food imports.

Speaking after the tour, President Mahama stressed the importance of learning from countries that have successfully transformed their agricultural sectors through industrialisation and technological innovation.

“We are here to tap into Belarus’ vast experience as we work to make Ghana self-dependent in food production,” the President said.

He noted that Ghana’s agricultural future depends on transitioning from predominantly smallholder farming to large-scale commercial agriculture supported by modern processing technologies and efficient value chains.

According to him, one of the major challenges confronting Ghanaian farmers remains post-harvest losses, which continue to undermine productivity and reduce incomes across the agricultural sector.

President Mahama said his visit was partly aimed at identifying technical expertise and proven solutions that could help Ghana address these challenges while creating sustainable opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses.

The Managing Director of the company, Aleksandr Savchits, disclosed that the agro-processing giant generated more than US$1.4 billion in profit last year, underscoring the strength and competitiveness of Belarus’ dairy industry.

He revealed that the company has recently begun exporting dairy products to Ghana and expressed optimism about expanding exports as economic cooperation between the two countries deepens.

Savchits indicated that growing bilateral relations present significant opportunities for trade, investment and technology transfer, particularly in the agricultural and food-processing sectors.

President Mahama used the occasion to invite Belarusian investors to explore partnerships with Ghanaian businesses and agricultural associations, describing such collaborations as mutually beneficial.

He said Ghana offers enormous opportunities in agriculture, agro-processing and value addition, making it an attractive destination for foreign investment.

The President’s visit to Brest highlights the increasing focus of his administration on food security, agricultural industrialisation and international partnerships as key pillars of Ghana’s economic development strategy.

Belarus is recognised globally as one of the leading exporters of dairy products, including milk powder, butter and cheese, and has built a reputation for combining large-scale farming with advanced agro-processing technologies.

Mahama seeks Belarus expertise for Ghana food security plan

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