Build African business giants for sustainable economic transformation - Alex Dadey advocate
The Group Executive Chairman of the KGL Group of Companies, Alex Apau Dadey, has called for a more deliberate continental effort towards building resilient African enterprises capable of competing globally while transforming local economies sustainably.
Speaking before a distinguished gathering of astute Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and policymakers at the 10th Ghana CEO Summit 2026, Mr Dadey stressed that Africa’s next phase of transformation would depend not merely on entrepreneurial ambition but on the continent’s ability to intentionally build enduring institutions anchored on bold leadership, institutional discipline, and long-term thinking.
Delivering a thought-provoking address on the theme, “Raising African Champions: Leadership, Resilience and Industrial Scale – Lessons from Ghana’s Business Transformation,” he stated that while Africa had long been recognised as a continent of immense potential, the defining question now was whether African nations were building enduring institutions, industrial capacity and governance systems capable of transforming that potential into long-term economic influence and global competitiveness.
“Potential alone has never transformed any nation. Africa, therefore, faces a defining choice: either remain a market for the ambitions of others or build enterprises capable of shaping global economic outcomes ourselves,” Mr Dadey, who has won the CEO of the Year Award at that event and many others, stated.
The summit attracted astute CEOs in the country and beyond, with President John Dramani Mahama toasting the summit as the Guest of Honour.
The event, which marked the 10th anniversary of the CEO Network, brought together captains of industry, business leaders, and high-level state officials, including the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare; the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama.
The Chairperson for the occasion was the Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV.
Other participants included the Founder and CEO of Margins ID Group, Moses Kwesi Baiden Jnr; the Chairman of Unilever and Co-Founder of Fidelity Bank, Edward Effah; the Founder Dean of the UPSA School of Law, Professor Ernest Abotsi; the founder and Executive Chairman of McDan Group of Companies, Daniel McKorley; the CEO and founder of B5 Plus LTD, Mukesh V. Thakwani; and Ernest De-Graft Egyir, the Founder and CEO of CEO Network Ghana, organisers of the CEO Summit.
Indigenous enterprises
Addressing the realities confronting indigenous enterprises, Mr Dadey observed that while accountability and regulatory compliance remained essential, African businesses must not be treated with suspicion simply because they achieved scale.
The Group Executive Chairman of the KGL Group of Companies stressed that no nation would industrialise successfully by weakening its own productive capacity or undermining responsible indigenous enterprises.
“If Ghana does not protect and nurture its responsible indigenous enterprises, who will build the continental champions we aspire to?” he questioned.
Mr Dadey further described leadership as Africa’s “missing infrastructure,” stressing that industrialisation could not succeed where leadership failed.
“Africa requires leaders willing to think beyond election cycles, quarterly earnings, and short-term interests toward institution building and long-term economic transformation,” the Group Executive Chairman of the KGL Group of Companies said.
On the issue of wealth creation and continuity, Mr Dadey also underscored the importance of trans-generational enterprise development, stating that too much African wealth disappeared within one generation because it was consumed rather than institutionalised.
He called for stronger governance structures, succession planning and long-term reinvestment strategies capable of preserving productive capital across generations.
Mr Dadey also expressed appreciation to President Mahama for his continued advocacy for local ownership, indigenous participation, and the strengthening of Ghanaian enterprises as critical pillars for sustainable national development and economic transformation.
Partnership
In a major announcement during the summit, Mr Dadey unveiled a strategic partnership between KGL Group and CNBC Africa, which will see the establishment of a CNBC Africa country office in Ghana, hosted by KGL Group.
According to him, the partnership reflected a shared commitment to amplifying African business stories, strengthening conversations around enterprise and investment, and positioning Ghana more prominently within the global business and economic landscape.
The 10th Ghana CEO Summit 2026 continues to serve as one of Africa’s leading platforms for strategic business dialogue, policy engagement, and thought leadership focused on industrial transformation, economic growth, and the future of African enterprise.
