Daniel McKorley, Executive Chairman of the McDan Group, has called on African policymakers to create a supportive environment for entrepreneurship, highlighting its potential to drive economic growth and job creation across the continent.
Speaking at The Regal Influence Summit, organized by the KRIF Foundation in Accra, McKorley emphasized the critical role of private enterprise in tackling unemployment and related socio-economic challenges, while urging stronger support for emerging businesses.
“Entrepreneurship is not about privilege; it is about possibilities, and Africa is full of possibilities,” he said. “With the world’s youngest and fastest-growing workforce, Africa cannot rely on government employment or foreign aid alone. Entrepreneurship offers the pathway for young people to lead, innovate, and scale enterprises across borders.”
Dr. McKorley urged investors to adopt long-term strategies and for established businesses to mentor and partner with startups.
Citing his experience with the McDan Entrepreneurship Challenge, which nurtures innovative business ideas, he encouraged similar initiatives across academia, the private sector, and government.
He also pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a major opportunity for entrepreneurs, stressing that access to capital and mentorship would enable businesses to leverage the agreement for regional growth.
Reflecting on Africa’s challenges, he said: “The continent has faced exploitation, instability, and systemic barriers, yet we continue to rise. Our future will not be defined by what we endure, but by what we choose to build.”
Dr. McKorley advised young entrepreneurs to adopt discipline and a positive mindset, noting: “Seventy-five percent of wealth comes from attitude. Institutions must equip youth with practical, relevant skills, and successful entrepreneurs must lift others.
Entrepreneurship thrives in ecosystems, not isolation. Africa does not lack talent; what we need is belief backed by action.”
The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, represented by Nii Adote Odaawului, Sempe Akweiman Mantse, urged African leaders to create opportunities and foster collaboration rather than competition.
He said: “Our people are tired of promises; they want outcomes. True influence protects the powerless. We need less short-term applause and more long-term delivery.”
Rev. Kennedy Okusun, Executive Chairman of KRIF Ghana Limited, described the summit as a strategic convening of “power, conscience, and legacy.”
He encouraged stakeholders to move from rhetoric to responsibility, stressing that Africa’s rise would depend on leaders who deliberately choose to shape nations.
The forum’s discussions focused on entrepreneurship, Pan-Africanism, banking, finance, investment, and gender and development, providing a platform for knowledge sharing among policymakers, business leaders, and investors.
