How Ghanaian tycoon Manoj Lakhiani built a water and plastics empire from a $25,000 loan
Manoj Lakhiani was 17 when he quit school and borrowed $25,000 from his father to buy a second-hand plastic extrusion machine in Accra. Three decades later, the Ghana-born industrialist is Chairman of the Blow Group of Companies, one of the largest privately owned manufacturers in Ghana. Its factories in Tema make plastic bags and packaging, […]
Manoj Lakhiani, born in Ghana, began his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 17 by purchasing a second-hand plastic extrusion machine for $25,000 from his father in Accra. After three decades, he now holds the position of Chairman of the Blow Group of Companies, a major privately owned manufacturer in Ghana. The company's production facilities in Tema are responsible for manufacturing plastic bags, packaging, PET bottle preforms, Bel Aqua bottled water, Bel Cola, a low-alcohol cider, and Belpak tissue paper.
With an employee base of approximately 4,000 people, the group's financial records are not made public.
The origins of the Blow Group can be traced back to 1994 when Jagdish Lakhiani, an import merchant based in Accra, acquired a struggling plastic gallon manufacturer, which eventually became Blow Plast Industries. The company's expansion was primarily driven by the production of everyday plastic items such as carrier bags, sachet water film, and sacks.
A significant turning point for the company occurred in 2010 when a major beverage client discontinued its contract with Blow Plast. In response, Manoj Lakhiani ventured into the drinks business and introduced Bel Aqua in October 2011. Within just five years, Bel Aqua had established itself as the leading bottled water brand in Ghana, according to Sagaci Research.
Beyond bottled water, Manoj Lakhiani has diversified the group's offerings to include noodles, which were sold to Dufil's Indomie production in 2020. Additionally, the company has expanded into cola, cider, and tissue paper production. The Belpak mill, a tissue paper manufacturing facility, was inaugurated in Tema in 2023. However, Bel Aqua has faced challenges, such as a 2024 product recall by Ghana's food regulator due to pH level issues. The Blow Plast factories have also been embroiled in an ongoing land dispute in Accra's High Court.
Despite the challenges, the group has not announced any new factory expansions since a Krones equipment order in 2024. Furthermore, there has been no mention of a successor to Manoj Lakhiani, who has been at the helm of the Blow Group since its inception in 1994.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
