By Ernest Nutsugah, GNA
Accra, Sept. 24, GNA – The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) is deepening collaboration with local manufacturers as part of government’s efforts to increase local participation and value creation in the mining value chain.
Mrs Justina Nelson, the Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, and other officials of the organisation, on Wednesday paid a visit to B5 Plus Limited, a leading manufacturer of iron and steel products, located in the Ningo-Prampram District, Greater Accra Region.
The visit was to gain first-hand insight into the operations of B5 Plus, production capacity, regulatory compliance and environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices in relation to the manufacture of grinding media and other consumables used in the mining industry.
Grinding media are components in various forms and shapes used to crash materials through impact and abrassion, especially in the mining industry.
The delegation observed the company’s manufacturing processes, including its steel fabrication, melting, rolling, grinding media, aluminium and engineering plants.
In February 2026, President Mahama inaugurated the expanded B5 Plus Steel Plant, pledging to create a conducive environment for manufacturing through various government initiatives.
Mrs Nelson, interacting with journalists, emphasised expanding local production and investing in the broader mining value chain beyond traditional mines.
She said the engagement was to identify areas for future partnership and support, in line with the government’s local content and local participation policy and the objectives of the Minerals and Mining (Local Content and Local Participation) Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2431).
She explained the mandate of MIIF, which includes receiving, managing and investing mineral royalties, indicating that the organisation would continue to support the President’s vision of making Ghana transition from raw mineral extraction to domestic processing.
“Government has made local content a priority as well as increasing Ghanaian participation in the mining value chain. MIIF’s role is to explore how mineral revenues can be strategically deployed to support this objective by strengthening local businesses, expanding productive capacity and creating opportunities for greater value retention within Ghana.
“The mining value chain is very broad… In this vein, my visit from now onward will be looking at how we can also invest and develop that space,” Mrs Nelson said, and commended the production capacity of B5 Plus.
Mr Mukesh Thakwani, Group Chairman, B5 Plus Limited, highlighted the company’s comtribution to job creation and skills development, and the commitment to delivering quality products and services to the Ghanaian and West Africa markets.
He noted that the company could produce approximately 130,000 tonnes of grinding media balls, exceeding the about 70,000 tonnes demanded in Ghana’s mining industry, and called for favourable policies to support domestic production.
Mr Thakwani said the company’s tanker and trailer plant expansion was expected to be completed by the end of December and aims to be the largest facility of its type in West Africa.
“Just about two decades before we started, Ghana was a net importer of steel from all over the world, including our neighbours…today we are very proud to say that B5 Plus not only produces for the Ghana market but we export the whole West Africa Market.
“We produce in Ghana but quality products of international standards so no one can come and challenge us,” he said. and called for stronger policies on the use of products manufactured in Ghana.
B5 Plus Limited was established in 2002 and aims to become the world’s steel industry benchmark, guided by excellence, innovation, continuous improvement, openness, and transparency.
The company has seven product categories, including mild steel, high tensile and iron rods, galvanized products, stainless steel, marine and mining, roofing and nails and concrete fencing.
The Minerals Income Investment Fund was established by an Act of Parliament under the Minerals Income Investment Fund Act, 2018 (Act 978) as amended to receive mineral royalties and related income due to the State and invests the resources to generate sustainable returns for present and future generations.
Beyond managing mineral income, the MIIF is focused on strengthening businesses and industries that form part of the mining value chain.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe