MIIF engages B5 Plus Limited to push local content in mining

Accra, Wednesday September 23, 2026– The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) is deepening its engagement with local manufacturers as part of efforts to support government’s agenda to increase local participation and value creation across Ghana’s mining value chain.

As part of this effort, MIIF on Wednesday engaged the management of B5 Plus Limited and undertook a site visit to gain first-hand insight into the company’s operations, production capacity, regulatory compliance and environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, particularly in relation to the manufacture of grinding media and other mill consumables used by the mining industry.

The tour provided the MIIF delegation with an opportunity to observe the company’s manufacturing processes including its steel fabrication, melting, rolling, grinding media, aluminium and engineering plants, as well as its school, which B5 Plus described as part of its commitment to giving back to society through education.

The visit emphasises the Fund’s efforts to deepen local participation across the mining value chain while reinforcing its strategic relationship with key players in Ghana’s steel manufacturing sector.

The engagement aligns with 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).

According to the Ghana Chamber of Mines, the procurement value of grinding media was approximately US$95.5 million in 2024, within total mining procurement of about US$2.45 billion, highlighting significant opportunities for local manufacturing and enterprise development.

The Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, Mrs. Justina Nelson, said: “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.”

Following the facility tour, the MIIF delegation met with the Group Chairman of B5 Group, Mr. Mukesh V. Thakwani, who welcomed the team and highlighted the company’s growing contribution to Ghana’s industrial and mining supply chain.

In his remarks, the Group Chairman said: “Today we are proud to say that B5 Plus not only produce for Ghana but also to the entire West Africa market.”

He noted that demand for grinding media balls within Ghana’s mining industry is estimated at about 70,000 tonnes annually, while B5 Plus has the capacity to produce approximately 130,000 tonnes, which shows the potential for increased local manufacturing and supply to the mining sector.

He further highlighted the company’s contribution to Ghana’s industrial development through local manufacturing, job creation and skills development including how the company has trained and employed hundreds of young people in technical skills, with many former trainees going on to establish their own businesses or secure employment locally and abroad.

The engagement also provided an opportunity for MIIF to better understand the opportunities and challenges facing local manufacturers supplying the mining industry and to explore potential areas for strategic collaboration.

Mr. Mukesh therefore called for stronger government support for local manufacturing through effective implementation of local content measures, access to industrial land, support for the recycling of scrap metal and policies that encourage the use of locally manufactured products.