President John Dramani Mahama has held bilateral discussions with President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, culminating in the signing of three landmark Memoranda of Understanding aimed at strengthening diplomatic, economic, and sectoral cooperation between Ghana and Belarus.
The engagements formed part of President Mahama’s State Visit to Belarus and are being positioned as a strategic step to expand Ghana’s international partnerships and deepen engagement with Eastern Europe.
The agreements were signed on behalf of Ghana by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Mr. Jehu Appiah, and the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku.
Three Agreements to Structure Economic Cooperation
The three Memoranda of Understanding establish formal frameworks for cooperation in trade, institutional development, and agriculture between the two countries.
The first agreement sets up a Joint Commission for Cooperation in Trade and Economic Affairs, which will serve as a platform for structured dialogue on investment, trade expansion, and economic policy coordination.
The second agreement focuses on strengthening collaboration between the Chambers of Commerce of Ghana and Belarus. It is expected to promote private sector partnerships, facilitate business exchanges, and enhance trade relations between enterprises in both countries.
The third agreement covers cooperation in agriculture, a sector both governments have identified as central to economic transformation and food security.
Together, the agreements are intended to provide a practical framework for government institutions and private sector actors to collaborate more effectively, while also creating opportunities for increased trade and investment flows.
Mahama Highlights Shared Development Aspirations
Addressing the signing ceremony, President Mahama emphasized that Ghana and Belarus, despite geographical distance, share similar aspirations for economic growth, technological advancement, and improved living standards.
“Though geographically distanced, Ghana and Belarus are united by a common aspiration. The desire to create prosperity for our people, strengthen economic resilience, advance technological progress, and build inclusive societies capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century”.
President John Dramani Mahama
He noted that the signing of the three agreements represents a shift from diplomatic goodwill to practical cooperation designed to produce measurable outcomes.
“Today we are taking a meaningful step to translate these aspirations of our two countries into concrete outcomes in an equal partnership for mutual benefit of our two countries.”
President John Dramani Mahama
Agriculture Positioned as Key area of Cooperation
President Mahama placed strong emphasis on agriculture, describing it as a central pillar of Ghana’s development agenda. He noted that government policy is focused on transforming agriculture into a modern, technology driven sector that supports industrialization and job creation.
He outlined ongoing efforts to improve productivity, expand irrigation systems, reduce post harvest losses, promote agro processing, and increase value addition across agricultural value chains.
In this context, he identified Belarus as a valuable partner due to its expertise in agricultural mechanization, equipment manufacturing, and agricultural research.
President Mahama said Ghana expects to benefit from technology transfer, skills development, and investment partnerships that will help modernize the agricultural sector and strengthen food security.
Expanding Cooperation Beyond Agriculture
Beyond agriculture, the President outlined several additional areas where Ghana is seeking deeper cooperation with Belarus. These include manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, mining support services, transport and logistics, technical and vocational education, renewable energy, and industrial development.
He disclosed that Ghana has extended an invitation for a Belarusian delegation to visit and explore opportunities within the country’s mining sector as part of efforts to broaden economic collaboration.
President Mahama also reiterated Ghana’s commitment to positioning itself as a preferred investment destination in West Africa, citing political stability, improved infrastructure, a youthful population, and access to regional markets as key advantages.
He added that government policies, including the economic transformation agenda and export led industrial programme, are aimed at creating a more conducive environment for private sector growth and international investment.
“We therefore welcome greater engagement between the business communities of Ghana and Belarus and encourage our private sectors to explore partnerships that will generate jobs, facilitate knowledge exchange and deepen economic ties”.
President John Dramani Mahama
Global Challenges and Need for Cooperation
President Mahama also reflected on broader global economic and geopolitical developments, noting that shifting supply chains, food and energy security challenges, and climate related risks require stronger international cooperation.
He stressed that partnerships must be equitable and mutually beneficial, particularly for developing countries facing structural economic vulnerabilities. “In such an environment, international cooperation must be practical, equitable, and mutually beneficial,” he said.
He further reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to diversifying international partnerships and strengthening engagement within the Global South while maintaining constructive relations across all regions.
A New Phase in Ghana Belarus Relations
President Mahama expressed confidence that the agreements signed during the visit would mark the beginning of a new phase in Ghana-Belarus relations, with expanded cooperation across multiple sectors.
He stressed that the true measure of success would be the practical benefits delivered to citizens in both countries rather than the signing of agreements alone.
“The true measure of our success, however, will not be the agreements we have just signed today, but the concrete benefits they will deliver to our citizens in the year ahead”.
President John Dramani Mahama
He assured that Ghana remains committed to ensuring effective implementation of the agreements and to identifying additional areas of cooperation as the partnership evolves.
The Belarusian side also welcomed the agreements, with both leaders expressing optimism that the partnership would contribute to economic growth, technological advancement, and stronger bilateral relations in the years ahead.
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