McDan tells Africa-Caribbean diaspora: ‘We are one culture, one people, one market’
At the closing session of the Africa-Caribbean Business Trade Expo in Accra, Daniel McKorley, Executive Chairman of the McDan Group, delivered a moving message of unity, resilience, and ambition to participants from across both regions.
“The reason we are here today is because we are one people,” McKorley said. “Our culture, our rhythm, and our resilience are our competitive advantage.” The Masterclass, one of the most anticipated segments of the expo, was filled with entrepreneurs, policy experts and diasporan leaders eager to hear McDan’s vision for Afro-Caribbean economic collaboration.
McKorley stressed the power of identity and culture in driving global commerce. “In trade, culture can be your currency,” he said. “People don’t just buy your goods. They buy your story, your values, your alignment.”
He described efforts to divide Africans and the Caribbean as ongoing but ultimately failing. “They’ve tried to separate us. Even our names were changed. But they could not erase our history,” he said. “What brings us together is deeper than what divides us.”
McKorley also challenged African and Caribbean leaders to ensure their history is not just remembered, but institutionalised. “We must draw a line that we won’t allow anyone to cross. I will kill for my history. I will live for my history,” he declared passionately.
He further proposed strategic partnerships through the AfCFTA to formalise the Caribbean as Africa’s “sixth region,” with protocols to facilitate trade, capital, and resource-sharing across the two regions. “Let this not be just another cultural exchange. Let it become a framework for commerce,” he said.
Calling for mindset change, McDan spoke of the need to eliminate “mental borders.” “We are one people divided by laws and borders. But if we clear that off, we’ll realise we’re closer than we think,” he said.
He ended with a rousing call to action: “The possibilities before us are endless—but possibilities only become reality when you put structure behind your ambition. Let this trade show be your launching pad. Let’s build, let’s trade, and let’s rise—together.”