Dr. Daniel McKorley, CEO of McDan Group, recently addressed the significant obstacles that Ghana’s private sector faces due to government policies, which he believes are stifling local businesses. Speaking at the Ghana CEO-Presidential Gala Dinner, he expressed concern over the lack of supportive policies for entrepreneurs seeking to make a positive impact in the country.
“I will be very blunt,” Dr. McKorley asserted. “Government policies have really not helped the private sector. That is where we are sitting right now, and we have to be frank about it.”
Drawing from his own business experiences, Dr. McKorley described the current environment as challenging for Ghanaians who aspire to succeed in business. “If you want to do business in Ghana, then you have to be prepared. Being a Ghanaian doing business in Ghana, you have to be brave,” he remarked.
As the head of McDan Group, a prominent Ghanaian conglomerate, Dr. McKorley conveyed his frustration over the lack of initiatives that support and empower local enterprises. He also observed a tendency for Ghanaians to receive limited support from their fellow citizens, stating, “Many times, it looks like we don’t support our own. I have tasted it, I have slept with it, and I’m living with it—it’s quite dangerous and difficult.”
Dr. McKorley highlighted the missed opportunities for national development that arise when the government does not fully harness the potential of the private sector. “If you build the life of my businesses… we can generate $3.2 billion for the government every year,” he noted. “Imagine if the government just called on McDan and other big businesses in times of need, like other countries do.”
In his concluding remarks, Dr. McKorley urged the government to recognize local businesses as key partners in economic advancement and to implement policies that empower entrepreneurs to drive job creation and economic stability across Ghana.
