The Chief Executive Officer of Young Dee Group, Desmond Darko, has advised prospective investors in Ghana’s fuel retail sector to gain practical industry experience before committing capital to setting up filling stations, warning that the fuel business is not simply about money.
Speaking on Joy 99.7, Mr Darko said the perception that the fuel business was an easy route to making money could lead to failure, particularly when investors entered the sector without understanding its operations. "My advice is that if anybody wants to do a filling station business, you should make sure that you start from scratch as a pump attendant, go through the ranks and learn everything in the business," he said.
His recommendation is informed by his own experience in the industry, where he spent about six years working at a filling station, progressing from pump attendant to supervisor and eventually site manager before becoming a fuel retailer. He currently operates three Shell-branded filling stations.
Mr Darko said his progress was largely shaped by his decision to approach every responsibility with commitment, regardless of his position. "Any time I’m given a task, I always want to do it and do it well. I just follow instructions and go all out, work as if it was mine," he said. He also recalled that his performance attracted recommendations from people who had observed his work.
His journey into entrepreneurship followed several years of taking up different jobs after leaving senior high school in his second year. He had earlier helped his mother sell roasted plantain and later worked in farming, fishing, construction, restaurants and other small businesses before entering the fuel retail industry.
Beyond fuel retail, Mr Darko leads Young Dee Group, which has interests spanning several sectors. He is also an author of seven books and an animal-rights activist. One of his publications, The Hidden Costs of Car Ownership, draws on his experience in the oil and automotive industries to highlight issues motorists should consider when buying fuel and maintaining their vehicles. A special edition was produced for CFAO Motors Ghana to accompany vehicles purchased from the company.
He has also written on broader social and economic issues, including unemployment and illegal small-scale mining, in The Ghanaian Mindset. The next volume is scheduled for launch on November 12 at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra.
Reflecting on his career, Mr Darko said he hoped his experiences and books would contribute to society and encourage others facing difficult circumstances.
"I’m someone that always wants to give back to society. I always want to share what I have," he said. He urged young people not to give up on their ambitions, adding: "Just put your trust in God and then he will answer you at the right time. God’s time is the best."