Iron and Steel Industry in Ghana and West Africa: B5 Plus, A Journey to Success

Mukesh V. Thakwani, Founder and CEO of B5 Plus Ltd, talks about the company’s journey to success. From humble beginnings in 2002, B5 Plus has become the largest iron and steel company in Ghana and West Africa.

“This journey started 32 years ago when I was a young man. I am really blessed that I came to Africa and I am more blessed that after seven years going to different West African countries that I settled in Ghana. 20 years ago, everything in Ghana was being imported in the steel industry. At that time, when we said that we wanted to get into manufacturing, I remember when I spoke to my uncle, he told me it was a crazy idea, because manufacturing is not a success story in any part of West Africa. But I was very determined. And with a modest start with a production of nails and then binding wire and iron rods, today, we are very proud to say that we are making more than 100 products and we are really looking forward to producing a lot more. Ghana is really blessed with the location as well. I will give all credit to our dear brothers and sisters in Ghana. They really make this place beautiful, always welcoming, always with that positive attitude. It is very easy to work in Ghana. The key is the commitment to hard work. It is something which requires humility, empathy, and being with people. Now, we build up the people around us. Today we have more than 1,000 distributors. We have built so many entrepreneurs around us. So, once those entrepreneurs are built around you, that commitment and that dedication is there and they also want to grow with you. Whether you talk about a banker, a supplier, a trader, everyone grows with us”, says Mukesh V. Thakwani.

“B5 Plus has made a foothold not only in Ghana, but in West Africa. Today, we are very proud to say that we are the market leaders not only in Ghana, but in the whole of West Africa in the steel segment. We want to grow from here, not only into the steel segment, but also into the other segments. So, we really are very keen to make investments and put our steps into the service industry like hospitals. Medical is a big possibility for us. We are also interested in aviation, and most importantly, the agro industry. Ghana has a lot to offer. If we have good land reforms in Ghana, with the help of the government, we can really produce a lot of agro foods right here, made in Ghana. There are many industries related to the agro so there is a huge potential there”, he adds.

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