Speaking at the ongoing Ghana Economic Forum, Dr. Daniel McKorley, Chief Executive Officer of McDan Group of Companies, urged entrepreneurs in the country to be resilient and take advantage of current macro-economic conditions to build a solid foundation that can propel their businesses beyond the country’s borders by leveraging the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to him, just as businesses were able to innovate and embrace technology to survive the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a similar tenacity is needed from entrepreneurs to survive in these trying times, but this time, the ability to look beyond the perimeters of this country should be their mark.
“As I always say, in adversities like these real leaders emerge; stronger and more resilient countries are seen; and able countries take advantage to become the new economic force. And similarly, it is in times of adversities like this that innovative entrepreneurs emerge and become the world’s new game-changers.
It is not all doom and gloom; this is the time when Ghanaian entrepreneurs must take advantage of what is happening and launch products that will penetrate the AfCFTA. This is because it is in times like these that we see stronger businesses, and I believe this is the opportunity for vibrant, strong, young entrepreneurs to get ready and lead the fourth industrial revolution,” he stated.
Dr. McKorley went on to say that his organization is dedicated to promoting trade in the sub-region and that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the AfCFTA secretariat to provide logistics support for easy mobility of products and services. “My company’s partnership with AfCFTA will be a critical contributor to the transformation we want to see on the African continent. The agreement will spearhead industrial transformation and economic development, boost intra-African trade, and create employment,” he said.
He stated that unless goods can move from one country to another, all boardroom discussions and MoUs signed will be pointless; and hence, business owners must take full advantage of the transportation logistics that his organisation offers to ensure their goods reach all countries on the continent.
Dr. McKorley believes that entrepreneurs who can think beyond borders and take advantage of available logistical support will be the primary beneficiaries of the continental trade area.
