GIISDEC in talks with B5 Plus over iron ore concession

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC), Williams Okofo-Dateh, has confirmed ongoing discussions with B5 Plus over a possible concession as part of efforts to accelerate Ghana’s iron ore development.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with ghextractives.com on the sidelines of the 2026 Mining Indaba in Cape Town, Mr. Okofo-Dateh said B5 Plus, a major steel manufacturing company operating in Ghana and the West African market, has expressed strong interest in acquiring an iron ore block.

He explained that B5 Plus currently imports a significant portion of its raw materials and semi-finished products to feed its operations, making a local concession strategically beneficial for the company’s expansion plans.

“They are a smelting company. As of now, they are importing most of their raw materials. It is in their own interest to acquire a block,” he said.

According to him, GIISDEC has held a series of engagements with the company and initiated processes toward a possible concession arrangement. However, discussions are still ongoing and no final agreement has been concluded.

“We’ve had some discussions and engagements with them and we have started something with them, but we have not finished with all those discussions. They have a very good plan of acquiring the block. Based on that block, they can expand their business and take advantage of the resources available to further entrench themselves in Ghana and the sub-region,” he noted.

The GIISDEC CEO indicated that granting a concession to an established steel manufacturer such as B5 Plus could help strengthen Ghana’s value addition agenda, reduce raw material imports, and deepen the country’s industrialisation drive.

He added that GIISDEC is positioning Ghana’s iron ore sector to attract strategic investors capable of developing the resource sustainably while supporting the broader national industrialisation agenda.