Delivering the 2025 University of Ghana Alumni Lecture at the Great Hall, the Executive Chairman of KGL Group, Mr. Alex Apau Dadey, made a strong case for a national mindset shift to position Ghana’s private sector as a true partner in nation building rather than a competitor to government. Speaking on the theme “Public Private Partnership, A Case Study of Responsible Corporate Citizenship,” he called on government, policymakers, and business leaders to embrace collaboration built on trust, shared value, and national ownership.
Mr. Dadey emphasized that governments do not create wealth, but rather set the rules for the private sector, which drives innovation, investment, and resilience. He said, “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 journey, he recalled the collapse of once vibrant indigenous enterprises such as Siaw Industries, GNTC, and Neoplan Ghana, describing them as lessons in the country’s inability to protect local businesses. He contrasted this with international examples like Tata Motors and Shoprite, which succeeded through deliberate state support and policy alignment.
According to Mr. Dadey, Ghana’s solution lies in Public Private Partnerships supported by responsible corporate citizenship. He explained that true partnerships should create shared social and economic value while promoting integrity, honesty, and trust. Responsible businesses, he said, must aspire to become transgenerational, capable of outliving their founders and sustaining development for future generations.
He noted that effective Public Private Partnerships can bridge Ghana’s innovation and infrastructure gaps when based on clear 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 stated.
Mr. Dadey also highlighted that Ghana’s economic independence will not come from foreign aid but from ownership of its resources, industries, and ideas, driven by Ghanaians for Ghanaians. He stressed the importance of the Ghanaian diaspora, asserting that no nation has achieved sustainable progress without leveraging its global citizens. He called for a shift from Foreign Direct Investment to Diaspora Direct Investment, where Ghanaians abroad channel their capital, expertise, and networks into national growth.
Touching on sustainability, he underscored the importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance principles in shaping responsible businesses. He showcased the impact of the KGL Foundation, which has empowered thousands of Ghanaians through education, health, youth development, arts, and sports initiatives. The Foundation has awarded over 300 scholarships to brilliant but needy students, supported mental health awareness programmes, and sponsored Ghana’s under seventeen Colts Football Programme as well as the Black Stars for four consecutive years.
In conclusion, Mr. Dadey urged all sectors, public, private, academic, and diaspora, to unite in redefining Ghana’s development path. “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. The time for convenience is past. This is the hour for conviction and partnership,” he declared.