By: Marcella Mwinkoma Babing
Founder and Executive Chairman of the McDan Group of Companies, Dr. Daniel McKorley, popularly known as McDan, has urged Ghanaian youth to focus on solving problems, developing the right attitude and building sustainable businesses as pathways to wealth creation and economic empowerment.
Speaking as a panelist at the High-Level Dialogue on “Reimagining Ghana’s Future: CEOs at the Heart of the Reset Agenda” at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra on October 29, 2029 stressed that wealth is often created by identifying challenges in society and developing solutions that address them.
“You have to solve problems. Yes, solve. The richest people in the world are those who solve problems, and there are so many problems,” he said.
Dr. McKorley challenged young people to look beyond the search for jobs and recognise the opportunities that exist in addressing societal and economic challenges through entrepreneurship.
Attitude, systems and knowledge: The foundation of wealth
Explaining his approach to making money, the business executive presented what he described as a 70-25-5 principle, assigning 70 per cent (70%) to attitude, 25 per cent (25%) to scale and five per cent (5%) to knowledge.
According to him, having the right attitude is fundamental to success, as knowledge and opportunities alone may not produce the desired results without the discipline and character required to sustain them.
He emphasised that integrity, trust and loyalty must be embedded in an entrepreneur’s attitude, alongside a willingness to work hard.
“If you don’t have the right attitude, your money will be going every day,” he cautioned.
Dr. McKorley also highlighted the importance of establishing systems and structures to protect and manage wealth as businesses grow.
He explained that while earning money is important, entrepreneurs must develop effective financial and operational systems to preserve their resources and support long-term growth.
His message underscored the need for young business owners to combine the right personal values with sound business management practices.
From job seekers to job creators
Dr. McKorley said economic empowerment among young people remains a major focus of his entrepreneurial journey, explaining that his ambition extends beyond providing employment to helping others establish businesses capable of creating jobs for additional people.
He disclosed that his business group provides more than 10,000 jobs, while stressing the need to train and mentor entrepreneurs who can replicate that impact across the economy.
“I want to train, create entrepreneurs who can also go out there to employ other people. So it’s a whole chain,” he said.
He explained that building an entrepreneurial culture among the youth could create a multiplier effect, where trained business owners establish enterprises, employ workers and contribute to broader economic development.
The approach, he suggested, is intended to move economic empowerment beyond individual success towards a cycle of opportunity creation.
Investing in education and mentoring future business leaders
The McDan Group chairman also highlighted the role of education and mentorship in developing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
He disclosed that the group has built 10 schools in northern Ghana, describing education as part of its broader efforts to transform lives and create opportunities.
According to him, the goal is to identify and nurture entrepreneurial potential early, equipping young people with the mindset and practical guidance needed to build successful businesses.
Dr. McKorley further stated that the group trained more than 20 entrepreneurs in the previous year whose net worth, according to his account, exceeded US$1 million.
He said he continues to mentor and coach entrepreneurs directly, with the intention of helping them build businesses that could eventually surpass his own achievements.
“I keep mentoring them. I keep giving them direct coaching that they will also be bigger than me or bigger than my empire,” he said.
He added that the McDan brand’s broader mission is to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives through initiatives that support personal development and economic transformation.
A call to rethink wealth creation in Ghana
Dr. McKorley’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions about Ghana’s economic transformation and the role of the private sector in creating jobs, developing local businesses and expanding opportunities for young people.
His message places entrepreneurship at the centre of that conversation, encouraging young people to identify problems worth solving, cultivate integrity and discipline, and build systems that can sustain their businesses.
For Ghana, the challenge is not only to produce more entrepreneurs but also to create an environment in which businesses can grow, employ others and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Ultimately, Dr. McKorley’s message was clear: wealth creation requires more than knowledge or the desire to make money. It calls for the right attitude, the ability to solve problems, effective systems and a commitment to helping others succeed.
The question for Ghana’s next generation is this: Are young people preparing merely to find jobs, or are they developing the skills and mindset to build businesses that will create jobs for others?
