COMMISSIONING SPEECH by Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
Ag. Minister for Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation
At the Official Commissioning of
B5 Plus Ltd. Steel Ball Mill & Section Mill (SBMS) Manufacturing Plant
Your Excellency, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana.
Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Trade and Agribusiness;
H.E. Manish Gupta, Indian High Commissioner to Ghana;
Captains of Industry;
Traditional Authorities;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good morning.
It is an honour to stand here today at Lakpleku Village for the commissioning of the B5 Plus Steel Ball Mill and Section Mill Manufacturing Plant, a project that speaks directly to Ghana’s industrial future and to the bold economic vision of His Excellency the President.
Today is not just the opening of a factory.
It is the commissioning of confidence.
It is the commissioning of capacity.
It is the commissioning of Ghana’s industrial destiny.
As Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources, I am deeply conscious that Ghana is richly endowed with mineral resources — iron ore, manganese, bauxite, gold, limestone.
For too long, our national conversation has centred on extraction.
But today, we celebrate transformation.
The Steel Ball Mill and Section Mill plant represents a critical shift:
• From exporting raw materials
• To processing and manufacturing locally
• To building downstream industries
• To creating skilled Ghanaian jobs
Steel balls are essential inputs in mining operations.
When these products are made in Ghana, for Ghana — and for export — we reduce imports, conserve foreign exchange, and strengthen our industrial base.
This is exactly the direction Government supports.
This project aligns directly with:
• The 24-Hour Economy industrial strategy
• Import substitution policy
• Strategic anchor industry development
• Local content and value addition frameworks
• Green and sustainable industrial transformation
His Excellency has made it clear: Ghana must move beyond raw commodity dependence.
B5 Plus has demonstrated that private Ghana-based industry can rise to this challenge.
Ghana possesses iron ore deposits capable of supporting domestic steel production.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, working with GIISDEC and other stakeholders, is committed to:
• Structured iron ore development
• Transparent mineral allocation
• Responsible mining practices
• Downstream integration into steel manufacturing
Plants like this are crucial.
Because mineral policy must connect directly to manufacturing policy.
Extraction without processing is incomplete development.
Processing without industrial integration is wasted opportunity.
Today, we see integration in action.
As Acting Minister for Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, I must also emphasize:
Industrial growth must be responsible.
Modern steel manufacturing must embrace:
• Energy efficiency
• Emissions control
• Waste recycling
• Innovation in production processes
• Circular industrial models
The future of industry is green industry.
And Ghana’s industrial expansion must be sustainable — environmentally sound and technologically advanced.
I commend B5 Plus for investing in modern production systems that align with this direction.
Industrialisation is not just about machines.
It is about people.
• Engineers
• Welders
• Metallurgists
• Machine operators
• Technicians
• Young graduates
Each plant like this creates not just employment — but technical capacity.
The Ministry strongly encourages structured training partnerships between industry and technical universities to deepen Ghana’s metallurgical and industrial engineering skills.
If we build skills alongside infrastructure, Ghana wins twice.
We also acknowledge the importance of international cooperation.
The presence of the Indian High Commissioner today reflects the strength of Ghana–India industrial collaboration.
But let us be clear:
Partnership must always support Ghanaian value addition.
The future lies in joint ventures that build factories here, create jobs here, and retain value here.
This commissioning is not an isolated event.
It fits into a broader national industrial ecosystem:
• Local steel for housing
• Steel for rail and transport corridors
• Steel for oil and gas fabrication
• Steel for renewable energy infrastructure
• Steel for agricultural mechanisation
When steel is made locally, national development accelerates.
And when industry works hand-in-hand with Government policy, transformation becomes inevitable.
To the private sector, I say:
Invest boldly.
Innovate responsibly.
Partner strategically.
Government’s role is to create policy clarity, regulatory certainty, and an enabling environment.
Industry’s role is to deliver productivity, quality and compliance.
Together, we can reposition Ghana as a manufacturing hub in West Africa.
Your Excellency,
Today we do not merely cut a ribbon.
We mark a milestone in Ghana’s industrial journey.
We signal that Ghana is ready to move from resource extraction to resource transformation.
We demonstrate that the 24-Hour Economy is not theory — it is operational.
And we reaffirm that under your leadership, Ghana’s industrialisation agenda is active, deliberate, and forward-looking.
To B5 Plus, I say:
You have raised the bar.
Now let us collectively raise the nation.
May this plant operate safely.
May it create jobs.
May it generate exports.
May it strengthen Ghana’s industrial sovereignty.
And may it stand as a symbol of what is possible when vision meets investment.
Thank you.
God bless you all.
God bless B5 Plus.
And God bless our homeland Ghana