Ghana To Acquire 1,840 Belarusian Machines To Boost Agriculture And Industry

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana will acquire 1,840 agricultural and industrial machines from Belarus as part of efforts to modernise farming, strengthen the mining sector and accelerate industrial development.

The announcement was made during the President’s state visit to Belarus, where the two countries signed agreements aimed at deepening cooperation in agriculture, trade and economic development.

According to President Mahama, the machinery package forms part of a broader government strategy to expand mechanisation, improve productivity and support the country’s industrial transformation agenda.

The acquisition follows discussions between Ghanaian and Belarusian officials on strengthening collaboration in agricultural mechanisation and technology transfer.

Belarus is internationally known for manufacturing tractors, harvesters, heavy-duty mining equipment and other industrial machinery.

The planned imports are expected to support the government’s Farmer Service Centre programme, which seeks to provide farmers across the country with access to modern equipment and mechanisation services.

The government has already announced plans to establish 50 Farmer Service Centres in key agricultural districts, equipped with thousands of machines including tractors, trailers, ploughs, harrows, fertiliser spreaders, seed drills, boom sprayers, and combine harvesters.

The initiative is intended to reduce labour constraints, increase productivity and make modern farming equipment more accessible to smallholder farmers.

During President Mahama’s visit to Minsk, the two countries signed three Memoranda of Understanding covering agriculture, trade and economic cooperation.

The agreements are expected to provide a framework for investment, technology transfer and closer collaboration between public institutions and private businesses in both countries.

Agriculture has emerged as a central pillar of the Mahama administration’s economic strategy. The government has repeatedly stated its intention to transform the sector through mechanisation, irrigation expansion, agro-processing and value addition while reducing dependence on food imports.

Belarus has become an important partner in that effort. Earlier reports indicated that the Eastern European country planned to supply thousands of agricultural machines to Ghana under a broader mechanisation programme that also includes maintenance centres and technical training for local operators and technicians.

During his visit, President Mahama toured agricultural and industrial facilities in Belarus, including machinery manufacturers and agro-processing plants, to explore opportunities for cooperation.

He said Ghana’s objective is to draw on Belarusian expertise and technology to modernise agriculture, improve food security and support industrial development.

The procurement of the 1,840 machines is expected to provide a significant boost to Ghana’s mechanisation drive at a time when much of the country’s agricultural activity is still carried out with limited access to modern equipment.