Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda received a significant boost with the official commissioning of the country’s first steel balls manufacturing plant at Lakpleku, Ningo Prampram, in the Greater Accra Region. On February 20, 2026, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh, joined industry leaders at the inauguration of the state-of-the-art facility developed by …
Minerals Commission CEO hails B5 Plus Steel Balls Plant as boost to mining sector
Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda received a significant boost with the official commissioning of the country’s first steel balls manufacturing plant at Lakpleku, Ningo Prampram, in the Greater Accra Region.
On February 20, 2026, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh, joined industry leaders at the inauguration of the state-of-the-art facility developed by B5 Plus Company Limited. The plant was officially commissioned by President John Dramani Mahama.
The facility marks a landmark investment in the local mining supply chain, positioning Ghana to domestically produce steel balls — a critical consumable in mineral processing that has historically been heavily import-dependent.
Tandoh lauded the initiative as a pivotal moment for the nation’s mining ecosystem.
“This plant is not just an addition to our industrial landscape; it is a turning point,” he stated. “By producing steel balls locally, we are directly reducing our import bill, conserving valuable foreign exchange, and enhancing operational efficiency for our mining companies. Most importantly, this development ensures that greater economic value is retained within Ghana, creating sustainable, high-value opportunities for our people.”
The establishment of in-country manufacturing capacity for steel balls is expected to strengthen supply chain resilience, significantly shorten procurement lead times, and improve cost efficiency for mining operations nationwide.
Tandoh emphasized that the investment aligns seamlessly with the Commission’s strategic mandate to deepen backward integration within the mining value chain. He noted that localizing the production of essential mining inputs not only strengthens Ghana’s beneficiation framework but also accelerates industrial multipliers across related sectors, including fabrication, logistics, engineering services, and technical skills development.
The employment impact of the plant is equally transformative. Beyond the creation of direct skilled jobs, the facility is expected to stimulate substantial indirect and induced employment within ancillary services. Tandoh highlighted its role in building technical capacity, creating sustainable pathways for Ghanaian youth to participate in high-value manufacturing, and strengthening the nation’s industrial workforce.
“As the regulator of the mining sector, the Commission remains unwavering in its commitment to fostering an enabling environment that incentivizes strategic capital investment, promotes technology transfer, and enforces robust local content compliance,” Mr. Tandoh affirmed. “The foresight and leadership demonstrated by B5 Plus Limited exemplify the kind of private sector partnership required to drive structural transformation within our extractive industry.”
The CEO noted that this milestone significantly advances Ghana’s long-term competitiveness in the global mining landscape. It underscores the nation’s broader objective of transitioning from a raw material exporter to a jurisdiction that manufactures critical mining inputs, builds a resilient and integrated mining-industrial complex, and secures inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
