Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko shocked at McDan’s attack on the government

An influential person within the New Patriotic Party(NPP) Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has expressed shock at remarks made by Dr. Daniel McKorley, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of McDan Group, on the challenges Ghanaian businesses face due to government policies.

McKorley, despite heading one of Ghana’s most influential businesses with significant government support, expressed strong criticisms of the current business climate, particularly highlighting the lack of government assistance for local businesses.

Otchere-Darko, visibly perplexed by McKorley’s statements, remarked in a new post shared on social media, “This is from an entrepreneur who enjoyed the full support of government to own the largest salt concession in Africa, with the capacity to produce some $2 billion worth of salt annually—a project that, for 45 years, various governments failed to commercialize. Aghast!”

His response pointed to the considerable government backing McDan Group has received to bring such an ambitious project to life. It also underscored his belief that McKorley’s success in the salt industry could serve as a model for other entrepreneurs facing similar hurdles, making McKorley’s criticisms appear somewhat contradictory.

A few days ago, Mr McKorley shared his viewpoint on Ghana’s private sector challenges. In his statements, the McDan CEO noted the immense difficulties faced by local businesses due to policy constraints. “Government policies have really not helped the private sector,” he stated bluntly. “That is where we are sitting right now, and we have to be frank about it.”

McKorley’s frustration is rooted in a broader observation that Ghana’s business climate, despite occasional support, often presents more obstacles than opportunities for entrepreneurs.

“If you want to do business in Ghana, then you have to be prepared,” he said. “Being a Ghanaian doing business in Ghana, you have to be brave. 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.” These statements depict a more nuanced struggle, highlighting the ongoing difficulties even successful entrepreneurs like him face when navigating the local business landscape.

Notably, McKorley added that if his businesses received more consistent support, he could potentially generate $3.2 billion for the government every year.

His call to action seems simple yet powerful—he believes Ghana could benefit from fostering stronger alliances with its leading businesses, just as many other countries do in times of need. To him, collaboration could be key to national growth.

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