President John Dramani Mahama turned his state visit to Belarus toward commercial agriculture on its second day, touring a major dairy processing plant in the industrial city of Brest as his government looks to import technical expertise and attract foreign investment into Ghana’s farming sector.
Mahama, received by Brest Governor Piotr Alexsandrovich Parkhomchik and senior Belarusian Foreign Ministry officials, visited one of the country’s largest agro-processing facilities to study its advanced dairy production lines, which manufacture baby food, milk, cheese, and milk powder for export worldwide.
“We are here to tap into Belarus’ vast experience as we work to make Ghana self-dependent in food production,” Mahama said in post-tour remarks, according to a statement from his office. He added that a primary goal of the visit is to identify technical solutions to reduce post-harvest losses, which is a major challenge for Ghanaian farmers.
The president, accompanied by his advisor and special aide Joyce Bawah Mogtari and Ghana’s ambassador to Moscow Dr. Jehu-Appiah, observed the facility’s high-tech production stages. He noted Ghana’s commitment to adopting modern processing techniques to transition from smallholder farming to large-scale commercial agriculture.
The facility’s scale underscored the potential scope of cooperation. Managing Director Aleksandr Savchits revealed that the company recorded over $1.4 billion in profit last year. The firm has also recently begun exporting dairy products to Ghana and is looking forward to expanding the volume of exports as bilateral trade ties strengthen.
Belarus currently stands as a global leader in the export of dairy products, including milk powder, butter, and cheese.
Mahama extended an invitation to Belarusian investors to partner with Ghanaian business associations, citing a mutual benefit for both nations.
The visit adds to Ghana’s pivot toward Eastern European partners for agricultural modernization, as Ghana grapples with food security challenges and seeks to reduce import dependence. The government has made agro-industrialization a centerpiece of its economic agenda, though progress has been hampered by infrastructure gaps and limited processing capacity.
Details of any concrete agreements reached during the Brest tour were not immediately disclosed. Mahama’s delegation is expected to continue bilateral discussions in Minsk before concluding the state visit.
