The Executive Chairman of KGL Group, Alex Apau Dadey, has called for a radical rethinking of Ghana’s development model, one that positions the private sector as a partner, not a competitor, to government.
Delivering the 2025 University of Ghana Alumni Lecture at the Great Hall on the theme “Public-Private Partnership -A Case Study of Responsible Corporate Citizenship,” Mr. Dadey urged policymakers, civil servants, and business leaders to build a development ecosystem grounded in trust, collaboration, and shared purpose.
“Governments do not create wealth; the private sector does,” he asserted. “The government sets the rules of the game, but it is the private sector that plays it with innovation, capital, and resilience. Ghana must move beyond seeing business as a rival, and start recognizing it as an ally in nation-building.”
Mr. Dadey lamented Ghana’s historical neglect of local enterprises, referencing the collapse of indigenous industries such as Siaw Industries, GNTC, and Neoplan Ghana. He described their demise as a collective failure to protect and nurture homegrown businesses, contrasting it with countries like India and South Africa, where firms such as Tata Motors and Shoprite thrived through state support and strategic policy alignment.
He stressed that sustainable growth would come not from aid, but from ownership and enterprise driven by Ghanaians themselves.
“Economic freedom will not come through aid but through ownership, ownership of our ideas, industries, and resources,” he said.
According to Mr. Dadey, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) anchored in Responsible Corporate Citizenship could unlock Ghana’s full potential, balancing profit with purpose. He challenged businesses to embed ethics and integrity into their operations, building legacies that endure beyond individual founders.
Mr. Dadey also highlighted the Ghanaian diaspora as an underutilized force in national progress. He proposed a shift from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Diaspora Direct Investment (DDI), arguing that no nation achieves lasting transformation without the active involvement of its people abroad.
Turning to sustainability, he underscored the importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, noting that businesses must align profitability with social responsibility.
Through the KGL Foundation, he said, the Group has supported numerous initiatives, including over 300 educational scholarships, mental health advocacy, and youth empowerment projects. The Foundation has also invested in Ghana’s football ecosystem, reviving the U-17 Colts Programme and sponsoring the Black Stars for four consecutive years.
Concluding his lecture, Mr. Dadey made a passionate appeal for unity of purpose across all sectors, public, private, academic, and civic.
“The government cannot do it alone. Businesses cannot do it alone. Academia cannot do it alone. Communities cannot do it alone,” he charged. “But together, when we merge our knowledge, ideas, and resources, we can transform Ghana for generations to come. The time for convenience is over, this is the hour for conviction and partnership.”
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