Alex Apau Dadey
The Group Executive Chairman of the KGL Group of Companies, Alex Apau Dadey, has called for a deliberate and coordinated effort across Africa to build resilient indigenous enterprises capable of competing on the global stage while driving sustainable economic transformation at home.
Addressing business leaders, policymakers and industry stakeholders at the 10th Ghana CEO Summit 2026 in Accra, attended by President John Dramani Mahama, Mr. Dadey said Africa’s future prosperity would depend on its ability to build enduring institutions rather than relying solely on entrepreneurial ambition.
Speaking on the theme, “Raising African Champions: Leadership, Resilience and Industrial Scale – Lessons from Ghana’s Business Transformation,” he argued that the continent’s vast potential can only be realised through strong institutions, industrial capacity and effective governance systems capable of delivering long-term economic influence and global competitiveness.
According to him, Africa stands at a critical crossroads and must decide whether to remain a market for foreign ambitions or develop enterprises capable of shaping global economic outcomes.
“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,” he said.
Mr. Dadey also urged governments and regulators to support responsible indigenous businesses, stressing that local enterprises should not be viewed with suspicion simply because they have achieved scale.
While acknowledging the importance of accountability and regulatory compliance, he maintained that no country can industrialise successfully by weakening its own productive capacity.
He questioned who would build the continental champions Africa seeks if countries fail to protect and nurture responsible local enterprises.
On leadership, Mr. Dadey described it as Africa’s “missing infrastructure,” arguing that industrialisation cannot succeed without visionary leaders committed to institution-building and long-term economic transformation.
He called on leaders to look beyond electoral cycles, quarterly earnings and short-term interests.
The KGL Group chairman also highlighted the need for trans-generational wealth creation, noting that much of Africa’s wealth is lost within a single generation because it is consumed rather than institutionalised.
He advocated stronger corporate governance systems, succession planning and sustained reinvestment to preserve productive capital for future generations.
Mr. Dadey further commended President Mahama for championing local ownership and indigenous participation in Ghana’s economy, describing such policies as essential for sustainable development.
He unveiled a strategic partnership between KGL Group and CNBC Africa to establish a CNBC Africa country office in Ghana, which will be hosted by KGL Group.
He said the partnership would help amplify African business stories, deepen conversations on enterprise and investment, and strengthen Ghana’s visibility within the global business landscape.
The Ghana CEO Summit remains one of Africa’s leading platforms for dialogue on industrial transformation, economic growth and the future of African enterprise.
A Daily Guide Report