President John Mahama has paid tribute to the defenders of the Brest Hero Fortress during a visit to one of Belarus’s most important Second World War memorials.
Mr Mahama laid a wreath at the Brest Hero Fortress Memorial Complex, honouring soldiers and civilians who resisted the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941.
The Ghanaian leader was accompanied by Ghana’s ambassador to Russia, Dr Steem Jehu-Appiah, presidential adviser Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Belarusian foreign ministry officials and representatives of Ghana’s mission in Moscow.
Located near Belarus’s border with Poland, the fortress was among the first targets of Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. Despite being heavily outnumbered and cut off from supplies, Soviet troops and civilians mounted a prolonged resistance that later became a symbol of wartime resilience.
During a guided tour, Brest Governor Piotr Alexsandrovich described the fortress as a sacred national landmark and one of Belarus’s most visited historical sites, attracting more than 120,000 visitors in 2025.
Mr Mahama said it was a privilege to learn more about the courage of the Belarusian people, adding that the spirit of resilience shown during the war had helped shape the country’s modern development and industrial growth.
The memorial complex preserves bomb-damaged barracks, gates and a church in their wartime condition, alongside weapons, letters and personal belongings belonging to those who defended the fortress.
Following the visit, Mr Mahama attended a luncheon hosted by the governor, where he said the warm reception reflected growing ties between Ghana and Belarus.
“The heroism of the people of Brest is well documented in history,” he said. “Brest has demonstrated that it is not only about history; it is about production, development, industrialisation and culture.”
President John Mahama expressed hope that the visit would strengthen cooperation between the two countries, particularly in agriculture, mining and manufacturing.
He also invited Belarusian businesses to explore investment opportunities in Ghana, saying he hoped the friendship between the two nations would continue to deepen.
