The Executive Chairman of the KGL Group, Mr. Alex Apau Dadey, has called for a national shift in perception and policy to position Ghana’s private sector as a strategic partner in nation-building rather than 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 government, policymakers, and industry leaders to embrace a renewed spirit of collaboration anchored on trust, shared value, and national ownership.
“Governments do not create wealth – the private sector does. The government may set the rules of the game, but it is the private sector that plays it, with innovation, capital, and resilience,” he stated.
“The time has come for Ghana to move beyond seeing the private sector as a rival, and instead recognise it as a vital ally in national development.”
Tracing Ghana’s economic history, Mr. Dadey cited the collapse of once-thriving indigenous enterprises such as Siaw Industries, GNTC, and Neoplan Ghana as reminders of the nation’s failure to protect and grow its local businesses.
He contrasted these with global success stories like Tata Motors of India and Shoprite of South Africa, which thrived through deliberate state support and policy alignment.
According to him, the way forward lies in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) built on Responsible Corporate Citizenship, where business success translates into shared social and economic value.
He emphasized that responsible businesses must aspire to become transgenerational—built on integrity, honesty, and trust—capable of outliving their founders and sustaining future generations.
Mr. Dadey noted that effective PPPs can bridge Ghana’s innovation and infrastructure gaps when founded on clarity of vision, fair risk-sharing, and good governance.
“In every thriving economy, there comes a point where the government can no longer do it alone. The private sector must not only be involved — it must lead, but it cannot do so in isolation,” he emphasized.
He further stressed that Ghana’s economic independence will not be achieved through aid, but through ownership — of resources, industries, and ideas — driven by Ghanaians for Ghanaians.
Highlighting the critical role of the Ghanaian diaspora, Mr. Dadey said no country has developed or sustained progress without the active engagement of its most valuable human resource — its people abroad.
He therefore advocated for a strategic shift from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Diaspora Direct Investment (DDI), urging Ghanaians in the diaspora to reinvest their capital, knowledge, and expertise back into the nation’s development.
Beyond economics, Mr. Dadey underscored the importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in shaping responsible businesses and promoting national sustainability. He cited the KGL Foundation’s initiatives in youth empowerment, education, health, arts and culture, and sports as practical examples of responsible corporate citizenship.
The Foundation, he noted, has impacted thousands of lives through various programmes, including the award of over 300 scholarships to brilliant but needy students across all levels of education.
In sports, KGL Foundation has been instrumental in reviving and sponsoring Ghana’s U-17 Colts Football Programme and has supported the Black Stars for four consecutive years.
Additionally, through its mental health advocacy and intervention programmes, the Foundation has partnered with health institutions and NGOs to support vulnerable groups and combat the stigma surrounding mental illness.
In conclusion, Mr. Dadey called for a united front among all sectors — public, private, academic, and diaspora — to redefine Ghana’s development narrative.
“The government cannot do it alone. Businesses cannot do it alone. Academia cannot do it alone. Communities cannot do it alone.
However, together — when we bring our ideas, our resources, our knowledge, and our will — we can ignite transformation that will echo for generations,” he declared.
“The time for convenience is past. This is the hour for conviction and partnership.”
