President Mahama explores Belarus dairy technology to transform Ghana’s agriculture

GHANA – President John Dramani Mahama has visited the industrial city of Brest to explore opportunities for transforming Ghana’s agricultural sector.

The President, who was received by the Governor of Brest, Piotr Alexsandrovich Parkhomchik, and senior officials from the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, toured one of the country’s largest agro-processing facilities.

The visit focused on the plant’s advanced dairy production technology, including baby food, milk, cheese, and milk powder destined for global markets.

Accompanied by his Advisor and Special Aide, Joyce Bawah Mogtari and Ghana’s Ambassador to Moscow, Dr Jehu-Appiah, President Mahama observed the various stages of their high-tech production.

In his post tour remarks, the president noted Ghana’s commitment to adopting modern processing techniques to transition from smallholder farming to large-scale commercial agriculture.

“We are here to tap into Belarus’ vast experience as we work to make Ghana self-dependent in food production,” he stated. 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 company’s Managing Director, Aleksandr Savchits, revealed that they recorded over $1.4 billion in profit last year. The company has also recently began exporting dairy products to Ghana and is looking forward to expanding the volume of exports as bilateral trade ties strengthen.

President Mahama extended an invitation to Belarusian investors to partner with Ghanaian business associations, citing a mutual benefit for both nations.

The tour comes as Ghana prepares to roll out Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL) on packaged foods in a bid to curb the growing burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The move is part of wider regulatory reforms aimed at empowering consumers with clearer nutritional information and encouraging manufacturers to improve product formulation.

The policy will be guided by a Nutrient Profile Model (NPM), which sets thresholds for harmful ingredients such as excess sugar, salt, and trans fats.

Products exceeding these thresholds will be required to carry a clear warning label on the front of the package, allowing consumers to make more informed dietary choices.

Currently, Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) mandates expiry and manufacturing dates on packaged foods but does not require disclosure of nutritional risk factors. This regulatory gap, experts say, leaves consumers exposed to hidden health risks.

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