The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of McDan Foundation, Dr. Daniel McKorley has pledged to transform Zongo communities in the Ashanti Region by offering interest-free loans to women.

With such support, the women in the catchment area will be economically empowered to support their families and improve their well-being.

Dr. McKorley, popularly known as McDan, believes it is about time women, as well as the youth in the Zongo communities, divert their aggression towards developing their communities.

Per the latest unemployment data by the Ghana Statistical Service, about two out of ten women are unemployed.

The statistics from the third quarter of 2023 further indicate that about 8 out of 10 females are vulnerable.

Though governments over the years have channelled resources towards the development of Zongo communities, unemployment still remains a worry.

The CEO of McDan Foundation emphasised the need for women to receive support, to create employment.

He continued that the role of Zongo women cannot be discounted, hence the need to resource them to be independent and contribute significantly to their homes.

Dr. McKorley made this pledge during the launch of the 2025 ‘McDan Inter Tribes Football Tournament’ at Aboabo Middle B School Park recently, with a Champions Super Cup match between first two previous winners; the Hausas and Moshies.

The Moshies won the match 6:5 against the Hausas in a pulsating penalty shootout to be crowned as champions.

“We organised this tournament to bring unity among the communities.  We want the Muslim youth to be more   responsible and more dedicated towards their own community, so that they will be seen as better young men and women for a better tomorrow,” he said.

According to Dr. McKorley, the decision to assist the Zongo women is part of McDan Foundation’s broader corporate social responsibility initiatives, which include supporting communities and vulnerable people.

The McDan Foundation, he added, has a history of supporting various initiatives, including building schools in deprived communities and investing in youth sports development.

Dr. McKorley, who has been sponsoring some needy but brilliant university students from the Zongo communities, pledged to pick students onto his scholarship scheme this year.

For his part, Mohammed Nurudeen Abubakar, the President for Zongo Forum, thanked Dr. McKorley and his Foundation for their gesture and their quest to be part of this year’s Inter Tribes Football Tournament in the Zongo communities of the Ashanti Region.

“The Kumasi Zongo is having over 40 tribes that are living in peace and harmony, so he decided to sponsor this laudable initiative of inter tribes football tournament.  We are pleased to have him associating with our Zongo community,” Nurudeen Abubakar stressed.

He added, “Football brings unity, and this tournament brings on board over thousands of people to support their tribes, and that is the beauty of it. We have never had an incidence of violence despite having no security, meaning with the appropriate mechanism, our people can live in peace. Our aim is to unite us such that we see each other as one.”

Some key stakeholders at the event were Sheikh Zakaria A. Rahman (Deputy Ashanti Regional Chief Imam), Alhaji Musah Akambonga (President of the Council of Zongo Chiefs), Alhaji Ibrahim Sanford III (Acting Sarkin Zongo, Ashanti), Sheikh Abbas Karara (Deputy Regional Imam, Ashanti) and many other stakeholders from the Zongo communities.

Source : Daily Guide Network

Group Chairman of the McDan Group of Companies, Dr. Daniel McKorley, popularly known as McDan, has taken a swipe at young professionals who parade themselves with big titles on social media without matching expertise.

He observed that many individuals, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, claim positions such as Chief Executive Officer, Business Consultant, or Digital Expert after taking a few short online courses, yet have little to no practical understanding of what those roles truly require.

“Every time I scroll through my LinkedIn, I notice many young professionals proudly label themselves as ‘CEO,’ ‘Business Manager,’ ‘Digital Expert,’ or ‘Business Consultant’ after completing a short learning program, a handful of YouTube courses, or earning some certificates from Coursera,” he wrote in a social media post on Monday, April 7.

“Then I engage them, and it’s clear: they are not quite who they describe themselves to be. There’s no real substance. No depth. No real understanding. Just vibes and fancy titles,” he added.

The businessman stressed that true expertise is not about self-assigned titles but about one’s ability to deliver results through consistent practice and performance.

“Expertise is not about what you call yourself. It’s about what you can actually do. Real expertise is in your performance. It’s not in the talking. It’s not in the thinking. It’s not in the wishing. It’s not in the planning. It’s in the doing!

“Beyond that, to nail your expertise, you have to do it over and over and over and over again,” McDan asserted.

Source : Modern Ghana

The country needs to take practical steps to resolve the paradox of low skills gap in the face of rising unemployment, an entrepreneur has entreated.

The Executive Chairman of McDan Group of Companies, Daniel McKorley, said the mismatch between the country’s education and what the industry demanded from products of universities and institutions of higher learning must be addressed head on.

Delivering the keynote address at the 70th anniversary of the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU), he stated that closing the skills gap required more focus on technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

He was speaking on the theme, “Bridging the Skills Gap: Investing in Technical Education for Employment and Growth”.

Skills gap

Mr Mckorley said the country must ensure that academic curricula aligned with industry needs to equip students and graduates with skills that made them employable and entrepreneurial.

He said thousands of young graduates stepped into the job market every year, yet industries struggled with finding the right talent.

“The skills gap is not merely an academic concern; it is an economic challenge.

It affects productivity, innovation, and ultimately our national development.

Without the right skills, industries cannot expand, businesses cannot thrive, and our youth cannot fully realise their potential,” he said.

Technical education

The serial entrepreneur emphasised that TVET was about empowering individuals with practical, hands-on skills that met the needs of industries and drove economic transformation.

“I have always believed that Africa’s future will be shaped by its artisans, engineers and problem-solvers.

“If we want to compete in the global market, we must shift our focus from theoretical learning to practical, industry-driven training,” Mr McKorley said.

He, therefore, commended the Kumasi Technical University for its role in the transformation, but added that there was still more work to be done.

Private sector collaboration

Mr McKorley also urged the private sector to collaborate with technical universities to provide real-world exposure, internships and apprenticeships to young people.

He said companies must also ensure that interns were given opportunities to develop their skills and not just send them on errands.

“Instead of gaining hands-on industry knowledge, many interns become experts at locating the best food joints in town — not by choice, but because they are often sent to buy food for staff instead of being trained for the work they came to learn.

“If we truly want to prepare our youth for the workforce, we must give them real work experience, not just a lunch delivery schedule,” he said.

Invest in Technical education

The McDan Group Executive Chairman indicated that at the group, they had taken deliberate steps to invest in skills training through our McDan Entrepreneurship Challenge, scholarships and other initiatives.

He said the group was donating copies of the Compendium of Supply Chain Management Terms as well as offering its time and expertise to students studying in fields related to their businesses.

He called for more businesses, policymakers and educational institutions to join the cause to move beyond just discussing the skills gap to taking action.

Dr Mckorley also called for the prioritisation of modernising workshops, laboratories and training centres to meet global standards.

He added that students must be encouraged to create jobs through innovation and not just seek jobs.

Source : Graphic Online

The Chief Executive Officer of McDan Group of Companies, Daniel McKorley popularly known as McDan has revealed his intention of investing in Ghana’s creative sector.

According to the business mogul known for his investments across other sectors of the economy, including aviation, his decision stems from the wealth of talent in the creative industry.

In an interview with NY DJ on BTM Afrika, Mr. McKorley praised Ghanaian creatives for their exceptional talent and strong work ethic, but noted that they often struggle to take their careers to the next level due to limited financial resources.

Citing Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy as cases in point, he said: “I can tell you that Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy are some of the most talented artists in Africa. None of these Nigerian artists comes close to them, although they are also talented. Their (Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy) music and stage performances are amazing.”

Asked why he would want to invest in the sector, Daniel McKorley highlighted the great financial potential of the creative economy.

“That space brings a lot of money, and I smile where there’s good money, but it’s not my space, so I would want to sit back as the godfather to support (financially, etc.) people to get into that space. You can’t be everywhere. If you’re living in the system, you have to give others a shoulder,” he further noted.

He also called on other businessmen to invest in the creative sector since musicians, and other creatives are great ambassadors of the country.

“I believe in my heart that they need serious support from businessmen. They are our ambassadors, and I feel we need to invest more in them. I’m not really into that space, but I can see some good young upcoming talents as well,” he added.

In 2022, Daniel McKorley awarded Ghanaian multidisciplinary creative George Quaye a $2 million contract.

He made this revelation during the McDan Youth Connect event which was held on August 11, 2022 at the KNUST in Kumasi.

While encouraging the youth to yearn for greatness and learn to grow by taking baby steps, McDan cited George Quaye, as one of the people who had grown tremendously in his field.

“I’m here with Aboagye. Aboagye you saw in ‘Taxi Driver’ just won a contract from me – about two million dollars. You saw him in ‘Taxi Driver’ like he was joking [in ‘Taxi Driver] but Aboagye had a purpose. Today, he is sitting here in suit. Everybody has something special in him,” he noted.

George Quaye, also the Team Lead for ImageBureau, has in the past few years been vibrant in the field of theatre. Together with his partner Naa Ashorkor, they have staged a number of brilliant plays, aiming to help project theatre in Ghana.

Source: Graphic Online

The Executive Chairman of the McDan Group of Companies, Dr Daniel McKorley, popularly known as Mcdan, has dismissed claims that he harbours ambitions of becoming the president of Ghana in the future.

According to him, he has no political aspirations and intends to remain in his space as a businessman, focusing on economic development and youth empowerment.

Speaking in an interview on Oyerepa TV on March 28, 2025, Dr. McKorley emphasized that his goal is to support the youth and contribute to national development as a key stakeholder, rather than pursuing the presidency.

“For the presidency, no. I want to be very influential but not to be president. I want to help the youth. I want to help this country. Right now, we have a new president, and all businessmen have to support him to succeed. If he succeeds, the country will succeed, and all of us will benefit,” he stated.

McDan also urged the business community to rally behind President ,John Dramani Mahama arguing that a prosperous nation benefits everyone.

“We are in the private sector, and I want to make money there and support,” he added.

Source : Ghana Web

Renowned Ghanaian businessman and Executive Chairman of the McDan Group, Daniel McKorley, popularly known as McDan, has urged the youth to prioritize hard work over comfort.

According to him, young adults need to practice discipline, courage, and personal sacrifice in order to achieve success.

McDan, who has become a symbol of entrepreneurial success in Ghana, urged them to cut back on sleep to invest more time in self-improvement and service to others.

“If you sleep eight hours a day, start sleeping four hours. Add the extra two hours in serving somebody. There’s a lot of benefit in service. So, start with yourself,” McDan advised.

McDan was speaking at the 2025 edition of PCH Hangouts at the ICGC The New Wine Temple, East Legon.

He lamented that while many Ghanaian youth are intelligent and full of potential, they often lack the discipline and “finishing power” needed to turn their dreams into reality.

Drawing from his own experiences, McDan recounted the massive response to the McDan Entrepreneur Challenge, which received 15,000 applications for new businesses.

However, he noted that many applicants struggled to see their ideas through to completion.

“It’s not money. The finishing power. If you ask me to stop everything and focus on one thing, focus on yourself,” he stated.

McDan encouraged young people to cultivate discipline and courage, characteristics he believes are essential for overcoming challenges and achieving long-term goals.

“Discipline is what the Ghanaian youth need, discipline and a bit of courage. We have smart youth in this country, but they need a bit of discipline and a bit of courage,” he said.

Source : Ghana Web

Businessman Daniel McKorley, known as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the McDan Group, has admonished young adults to take on jobs no matter what.

He argues that any job that puts food on the table must not be looked down upon.

McDan, who is a serial entrepreneur, noted that people mostly judge jobs but people’s judgement won’t take care of you so what they think of particular jobs must not be of concern.

Making this position known in a post shared via social media, McDan as he is popularly called said “As a young adult, there’s no shame in doing odd jobs to fix your life. People will talk but no one will save you.

“Work is work. It doesn’t have to be glamorous. Don’t be embarrassed by the work that you do. If it puts food in the fridge, a roof over your head, and helps you take care of yourself and your family, then embrace it. People’s judgement won’t take care of you and neither will their praise.”