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Executive Chairman of KGL Group, Alex Apau Dadey, has called for a national mindset shift to position Ghana’s private sector as a strategic partner in development and not a rival to government. Delivering the 2025 University of Ghana Alumni Lecture themed, “Public-Private Partnership – A Case Study of Responsible Corporate Citizenship,” Dadey urged policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society to embrace collaboration rooted in 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. 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,” he said. Reflecting on Ghana’s economic history, Dadey cited the collapse of once-thriving indigenous enterprises like Siaw Industries, GNTC, and Neoplan Ghana as cautionary tales. Cedi holds at GH¢10.92 against the US dollar He contrasted these with global success stories such as Tata Motors and Shoprite, which flourished through deliberate state support and policy alignment. He argued that the path forward lies in robust Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) anchored in Responsible Corporate Citizenship – where business success translates into shared social and economic value. Such businesses, he said, must be built to last, grounded in integrity and capable of outliving their founders. “In every thriving economy, there comes a point where government alone isn’t enough. The private sector must not only be involved, it must lead. But it cannot do so in isolation,” he said. Dadey also emphasised that Ghana’s economic independence will not come from aid, but from ownership of resources, industries, and ideas driven by Ghanaians for Ghanaians. He spotlighted the critical role of the Ghanaian diaspora, advocating a shift from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Diaspora Direct Investment (DDI), where global Ghanaians invest their capital, expertise, and networks back into the country. Beyond economics, he championed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles as pillars of responsible business and national sustainability. He cited the KGL Foundation’s work in youth empowerment, education, health, arts, and sports as a living example – including over 300 scholarships awarded to brilliant but needy students, sponsorship of Ghana’s U-17 Colts Football Programme, and four consecutive years of support for the Black Stars. The Foundation’s mental health initiatives, in partnership with health institutions and NGOs, have also extended care to vulnerable groups while helping to break the stigma surrounding mental illness. Dadey called on all sectors, public, private, and the diaspora to join hands in redefining Ghana’s development narrative. All you need to know about Ghana’s new vehicle number plates |BizTech
