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Ghanaian multimillionaire logistics tycoon Daniel McKorley has called on university graduates to be self-reliant and innovative, stressing that education is a foundation for creating opportunities rather than merely seeking employment.
McKorley urges graduates to solve problems
Speaking at the 17th congregation of Garden City University (GCU) this week, McKorley, 52, told graduands to focus on solving real-world problems. Known locally as McDan, he credited his own success to “building in silence,” a strategy that helped his McDan Group expand across logistics, aviation, shipping, and mining. “Your education prepares you to make life on your own,” he said. “Do not just look for a job; look for challenges you can solve.”
GCU, one of the leading private universities in Ghana’s Ashanti region, specializes in training health professionals. The university marked its silver jubilee alongside the 17th congregation, with 2,494 students graduating this year. The institution’s theme, “25 Years of Impact and Beyond: Sustaining Excellence and Innovation for National Transformation,” thus reflects its commitment to producing skilled professionals. McKorley commended the university for its consistency over the past 25 years, particularly in developing talent for Ghana’s health sector.
McDan Group eyes bulk export infrastructure
McKorley is among Ghana’s most influential businessmen. His McDan Group, based in Accra, operates across West Africa, including Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Equatorial Guinea. His salt business, Electrochem Salt Mine, has revitalized the Ada Songor concession, previously mismanaged for years. The company now produces 650,000 metric tons of salt, with targets to reach one million tons in 2024 and two million in 2025.
The $88-million Electrochem Salt Washing Plant, Africa’s largest, processes industrial salt from a 41,000-acre field across 33 communities in Ada Songor. With a purity of 99.99 percent, the plant surpasses Namibia’s Walvis Bay in scale. Earlier this year, McKorley announced plans to raise $445 million to expand Electrochem Salt Mine, automate operations, and construct infrastructure for bulk exports, including pipelines and a jetty at Ada West.
McDan Foundation funds widows, women-led businesses
Beyond business, McKorley has made notable contributions to social welfare. Earlier this year he provided food to over 7,000 widows in Accra through the McDan Foundation, distributing essential food packages such as rice, soft drinks, biscuits and salt. In 2021 he granted $494,997 in interest-free loans to over 1,000 women-led businesses in Greater Accra.
