Ghana Steel Plant Cuts Imports 30%, Creates 10,000 Jobs

Ghana is building what it needs instead of buying it overseas, and the results are already transforming West Africa's industrial future.

President John Dramani Mahama just commissioned the Phase 2 expansion of B5 Plus Limited's steel manufacturing plant in Ningo Prampram District. The facility now stands as the largest steel producer in West Africa, positioned to save Ghana hundreds of millions in foreign currency while supplying the entire region.

Ghana consumes over 1.2 million metric tons of steel annually, almost all of it imported from Asia and Europe. This expansion changes that equation dramatically, cutting imports by 20 to 30 percent each year while keeping those dollars working at home.

The plant produces everything from construction rods to steel balls for mining operations to massive structural beams for engineering projects. Every product previously required expensive overseas shipping and months of waiting.

B5 Plus started in 2002 as a small trading company. Today it employs 10,000 people directly and indirectly across ECOWAS nations, earning ISO 9001:2015 certification for quality management and becoming the go-to supplier for durable steel products throughout the region.

The Ripple Effect

The plant operates 24 hours a day across three shifts, pioneering Ghana's new round-the-clock economy initiative. Continuous operation means lower energy waste and cheaper prices for consumers while creating stable employment for engineers and technical workers.

The government backed this industrial push with 110 million Ghanaian cedis in the 2026 budget. Additional support includes tax exemptions on machinery imports and streamlined customs clearance for raw materials, removing bureaucratic barriers that previously slowed manufacturing growth.

CEO Mukesh Thakwani describes the vision simply: "Made in Africa, for Africa and Beyond." The company aims to set global standards in steel quality and sustainability, proving African manufacturing can compete anywhere.

The facility also advances the African Continental Free Trade Area goals, strengthening regional supply chains so West African nations can build infrastructure without depending on distant continents. President Mahama called it "regional value chain integration in real practice."

Steel consumption directly indicates industrial development, and Ghana just took a massive leap forward while bringing its neighbors along for the ride.