President Mahama begins five day Belarus visit today

President John Dramani Mahama has commenced a five-day state visit to Belarus aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in key sectors including agriculture, trade, education and investment.

The visit follows an invitation from Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and is expected to result in several agreements designed to enhance economic and technical collaboration between the two countries.

According to a statement issued by the Presidency on June 5, 2026, President Mahama will hold high-level bilateral talks with President Lukashenko in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, before participating in an expanded meeting involving ministers and senior government officials from both nations.

The discussions are expected to focus on strategic partnerships in agriculture, trade, education, investment and industrial development.

A major area of cooperation under consideration is agricultural mechanisation. Earlier this year, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov revealed that discussions with Ghana included a proposal to supply approximately 3,000 units of agricultural machinery, including tractors, ploughs and seeders, alongside the establishment of service centres and training programmes for local technicians and agricultural specialists.

The initiative is expected to support Ghana’s efforts to modernise its agricultural sector, improve productivity and strengthen food security.

The two countries are also exploring opportunities to increase bilateral trade, particularly in agricultural products such as dairy and meat products, while creating new avenues for commercial cooperation and investment.

As part of the official programme, President Mahama will lay a wreath at the Victory Monument in Minsk to honour soldiers and partisans who lost their lives during the Second World War.

The President will also travel to the city of Brest, where he is scheduled to tour a major dairy processing facility as part of efforts to explore opportunities for collaboration in agro-processing and food production.

His itinerary further includes visits to the Brest Hero Fortress Memorial Complex and the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its ecological significance and conservation efforts.

Several bilateral agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, including a visa waiver arrangement for holders of diplomatic and official passports and an agreement establishing an Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Education is also expected to feature prominently in the discussions, with Ghana seeking to expand academic exchanges and technical training opportunities, particularly in medicine, agriculture and other specialised fields.

The state visit forms part of Ghana's broader strategy to deepen international partnerships, attract investment, promote trade and accelerate economic development through strategic global cooperation.

President Mahama is expected to conclude the visit and return to Accra on June 9, 2026.