The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the McDan Group of Companies, Mr Daniel McKorley has charged the government to support the development of Ghanaian businesses by creating avenues to boost local content in all sectors of the economy.
According to him, Ghana has to adopt “the Nigerian way” of strengthening local content and ensuring that indigenes take control of the local economy.
Mr McKorley urged Ghanaian businessmen to “package” themselves and their businesses to earn respect and demand more from politicians.
He said his charge was not about politics but a drive to see Ghanaians running the economy instead of foreigners who always repatriate their profits.
“…We have to go the Nigerian way to fight and strengthen our local content,” Mr Mckorley said.
“Look there should be a time when government give a contract to a foreign company, where one of us (a Ghanaian business) can do it, we all rise and say no, this is wrong but everybody is quiet and if we do that, one, two, three, the politician will start listening to us”.
Mr Mckorley made this known today (January 5, 2023) when he addressed the First annual New Year Business Forum in Accra.
He bemoaned the instance of Ghanaian businesses not being courageous enough to participate in open tenders, leaving foreigners to win many government contracts.
“Can’t we gather the courage to go the Nigerian way to strengthen our local content for once?”.
Mr McKorley said he faced similar challenges when he decided to start the first private jet terminal in the country.
Forum
The Forum organised by the Africa Trade Office in partnership with the Africa Trade Office was a gathering of business leaders in the country.
It saw leaders from various sectors of the Ghanaian economy share their perspectives on ways to improve the fortunes of the Ghanaian economy in the coming year.
Participants included the CEO of Maxigate Group, Mr Dennis O. Carter; the Managing Director of FBN Bank Ghana, Victor Yaw Asante; the CEO of Payswitch, Kojo Choi and the MD of Penta Build Limited, Mr Firas Jaber.