McDan Group signs MoU with Kenya to facilitate trading under AfCFTA

The Executive Chairman of the McDan Group, Dr. Daniel McKorley, is optimistic that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between McDan Group and the government of Kenya will yield significant results in the implementation of the AfCFTA.
Dr. McKorley believes that this move will result in a financial turnover of about $1 billion as his organisation positions itself as a key player in facilitating the seamless movement of goods across the continent under the free trade pact.

In an interview with CNBC Africa, the McDan Group Chairman explained that they are making strategic investments in port infrastructure and logistics, particularly in Kenya, as part of efforts to bridge trade gaps and overcome existing barriers between West and East Africa, specifically between Ghana and Kenya.

“The MoU is intended to facilitate business between the countries, and it is quite comprehensive. We are moving almost 100 containers with an annual turnover of about US$1 billion. However, it involves more support services for each country, which is why it is bilateral,” he said.He emphasised that infrastructure remains a key component of implementing trade activities under AfCFTA, adding that making these investments is crucial for the successful movement of goods and services across the continent.

As a free trade area connecting 1.3 billion people across 55 countries, with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$3.4 trillion, the AfCFTA, which is headquartered in Ghana, promises immense new markets, accelerated industrialisation, and fresh investment opportunities.

Source : Ghana Web

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McDan advocates reduction in cost of cargo to improve AfCFTA implementation

Daniel McKorley, Group Chairman of the McDan Group of Companies, has strongly advocated for finding innovative solutions to reduce the cost of cargo and improve intra-African trade on the continent at the ongoing AfCFTA meeting in Kigali.

He emphasised that improving intra-African trade relies on enhancing logistical support for moving goods within the continent with less stress and cost to customers.

The Group CEO of McDan Companies made these statements on Friday, October 11, 2024, during a plenary discussion on the topic “Leveraging Trading Companies and Strategic Partnerships for Intra-African Trade,” monitored by Nyansa TV at the ongoing AfCFTA meeting at the Kigali Convention Centre.

In addressing the challenges of intra-African trade, Mr. McKorley disclosed his company’s plans to launch Black Star Line and the Black Shipping Company by acquiring two cargo planes and a vessel to initiate the process.

He asserted, “Whoever controls the air and sea controls the business. It is crucial for us to take action and implement solutions.”

He added, “It is unacceptable that in the 21st century, cargo from Ghana to Senegal, for example, must go through Belgium before reaching Senegal. These challenges inflate cargo costs, impeding business growth in Africa.”

McKorley believed that for the Continental Free Trade to succeed, it is vital for African governments and businesses to address logistical challenges.

To address this, he stated, “We are establishing warehouses across the continent to ensure goods move efficiently, with proper customs procedures and freight rates. Let’s think globally and act locally.”

The plenary discussions were moderated by Mr. Godfred Mutziwa (Journalist, CNBC Africa), with Dr. Paul Adalikwu (Secretary General, MOWCA) opening the session. Speakers included Mr. Daniel McKorley (McDan Group), Mr. Felix Chege (CEO, Real Resources), Ms. Nevine Nakhla (El Gondy Trading Company), Ms. Babalwa Ngonyama (Global CEO, Sinayo Group), Dr. Fareed Kwesi Arthur (Coordinator, Ghana National AfCFTA Coordinating Office), and Mr. Rahul Mittal (Director Intra Africa Sales, Arise).

The second edition of the AfCFTA Business Forum, known as “Biashara Afrika 2024 (#BA 2024),” is taking place at the Kigali Convention Centre. It began on October 9 and is scheduled to conclude on October 11, 2024, under the patronage of the Rwandan President, H. E. Paul Kagame.

This year’s theme, ‘Dare to Invent the Future of the AfCFTA,’ #BA2024 aims to facilitate discussions between African public and private sectors, multinationals, and key stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities of building regional and continental value chains and establishing reliable supply chain networks to unlock the full potential of intra-African trade.

Source : Ghana Web

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Let’s think globally and act locally – Group Chairman of McDan Group posits at AfCFTA meeting

The Group Chairman of the McDan Group of Companies, Daniel McKorley, has strongly made a case at the ongoing AfCFTA meeting in Kigali, on finding ingenious solutions to reducing the cost of cargo and improving intra-African trade on the continent.

He emphasised that improving Intra-African trade hinges on the improvement of logistical support for goods to be moved within the continent with less stress and cost to the customer.

The Group CEO of MacDan Companies made these remarks on Friday while contributing to a plenary discussion on the topic “Leveraging Trading Companies and Strategic Partnerships for Intra-African Trade”, monitored by Nyansa TV at the ongoing AfCFTA meeting being held at the Kigali Convention Centre in Kigali.

In tackling the problems associated with Intra-African trade, Mr. McKorley revealed his company’s intention of starting Black Star Line and the Black Shipping Company by procuring two cargo planes and a vessel.

“Whoever controls the air and controls the sea controls the business. It’s imperative and incumbent on us to start something. That is the solution we’re bringing into the business.

“It’s unthinkable that in the 21st century when cargo is being moved from Ghana to Senegal for example, it has to go through Belgium before coming back to Senegal. These are real problems that increase the cost of cargo, hindering business growth and development in Africa,” he stressed.

Mr. McKorley thought that for the Continental Free Trade to work and be successful, African governments and businesses needed to find logistical solutions to its problems.

To solve this, according to him, “we’re also building warehouses across the continent to make sure goods move at the right cost, customs and also at the right freight rate. Let’s think globally and act locally.”

The second edition of the AfCFTA Business Forum, dubbed “Biashara Afrika 2024 (#BA 2024)” is being held at the Kigali Convention Centre. It was scheduled from 9th to 11th October, 2024, under the patronage of the Rwandan President, H. E. Paul Kagame.This year’s edition, themed “Dare to Invent the Future of the AfCFTA” provided an engaging and dynamic platform for continued dialogue between African public and private sectors, multinationals, and key stakeholders regarding the challenges and opportunities in the process of building regional and continental value chains and establishing reliable supply chain networks, which are essential to unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade.

Source: JoyOnline

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McDan Entrepreneurship Challenge Season 2: Empowering startups and driving innovation

The McDan Entrepreneurship Challenge (MEC) is back for its second season, bringing a high-stakes 13-week reality TV show that aims to propel emerging businesses to new heights.

With a grand prize of $100,000 up for grabs, the competition is set to transform the fortunes of one exceptional startup, offering a life-changing opportunity to scale and grow.

Launched by Dr Daniel McKorley, Chairman of McDan Group, the MEC is a testament to his commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in Ghana.

Dr. McKorley’s vision is clear: to support young entrepreneurs and drive economic development through strategic mentorship, financial backing, and a platform to showcase innovative business ideas.

This season promises even more excitement, as a panel of seasoned judges evaluates the creativity, sustainability, and impact of each competing startup.Throughout the show, participants will face a series of challenges designed to test their business acumen, adaptability, and leadership skills.

They will also benefit from expert mentorship aimed at helping them refine their ideas and navigate the entrepreneurial journey.

More than just a competition, the MEC serves as an inspiring platform for viewers, offering valuable lessons in entrepreneurship, resilience, and strategic thinking.

The show is designed to entertain while educating aspiring business owners, shedding light on the realities of building a successful enterprise in today’s fast-paced market.

As Season 2 progresses, audiences will follow the journeys of these startups as they tackle obstacles, seize opportunities, and innovate their way toward success.

With the McDan Group’s commitment to driving change and fostering sustainable growth, the MEC continues to play a pivotal role in creating a vibrant ecosystem where startups can thrive and reach their full potential.

Source: JoyOnline

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McDan wins CISCM Man of the Year 2023 award

The Group Chairman of McDan Group of Companies, Dr. Daniel Mckorley, has received the Chartered Institute of Supply Chain Management (CISCM) Man of the Year 2023 Award.

The award was conferred on him for winning two prestigious awards at the CISCM Recognition and Dinner Night held on January 13, 2024.

CISCM has recognized the McDan Group as the Best Organization for Projects and the Best Organization for International Trade.

The McDan Group was acknowledged as an organization that has in place an effective Project Management system that applies standard PM principles and practices in executing projects (programs) addressing implementation challenges.

Evidence shows the project’s functional activities and the project outcomes positively impact the strategic objectives of the organization, positively impact the society in which the organization operates, engage in sound and ethical processes, use improved or innovative practices in the process, and employ a sound sustainable relationship approach as a tool in the process. The project employs a sound sustainable relationship approach as a tool in the process.

Also, the Group was awarded as an organization that has effectively developed goods and services locally and operated in Ghana fully and exported globally.

Given these feats, the Chairman of the McDan Group, Dr. Daniel Mckorley, was crowned as the Best Integrated Supply Chain Management Personality of the Year 2023.

A citation in his honour reads: “After intrinsic research and analytical evaluation of your immense contribution to the growth and development of the McDan Group of Companies and Ghana at large, through the application of all CISCM’S Value Streams in your Operations, the Council of the Chartered Institute of Supply Chain Management, (CISCM) in recognition of same has the pleasure to confer on you CISCM Man of The Year, 2023. We trust that you will accept this recognition and commit to collaborate with CISCM to propagate and mainstream the adoption and use of integrated Supply Chain Management principles and practices; to support the agenda of promoting effective, inclusive and sustainable socio-economic growth and development in Ghana.”

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Daniel Mckorley said, right from step one of his journey in Supply Chain operations, he knew he was going to become an “icon of excellence.”

He said the CISCM has indeed added additional value to McDan Group’s strides with the awards and recognition.

Dr. Daniel Mckorley noted that the maiden edition of the CISCM Awards means a lot to the Group and averred that integrated supply chain management is the key to its development.

“We shall continue to partner with CISCM to grow. As a CISCM Man of the Year, I will continue to push for the adoption of the integrated supply chain agenda.”

 

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Decades of water problems at Ayalolo schools solved by McDan’s intervention

The students, teachers and other workers at the Ayalolo Cluster of Schools in Accra can now strike the continuous challenge of water they have encountered off their list of To-Dos because a permanent solution has been brought to them.

This is after the Chief Executive Officer of the  McDan  Group,

, brought a permanent solution to their water plight by installing a water tank on the school premises for them.

Gathering with some authorities from the schools, plus others from the Ghana Water Company Limited in the area, the students were allowed access to the new source of water, while some authorities heaped praise on the McDan  boss for the kind gesture.

Nii Atsire Agbo, who spoke on behalf of the McDan  boss, told the children that education is as important as having good, reliable drinking water.

“Education is the redemption you need to move from what you didn’t know to the point where you can say that you now know. Education is your life, so guide it well. And to get educated without water, and since you know water is life.

“It is for this reason that we reached out to  McDan  about the challenges we were facing with water here, and so we spoke with McDan , and he came to our aid,” he said in Ga.

Making the presentation, he also told the gathering that Dr. Daniel McKorley, being aware that the school would also need to pay some water bills going forward, had sent them an amount of GH¢3000 to help.

The teachers and the students expressed their thanks to the businessman.

 

Source: GhanaWeb

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McDan to pay medical bills of Ghana’s tallest man

Ghanaian business magnate and founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of the McDan Group of Companies, Dr. Daniel McKorley, has made known his intentions to pay the medical bills of Sulemana Abdul-Samed, the tallest man in Ghana.

Sulemana Abdul Samed, also known as Awuche, is the tallest man in Ghana. He was born in 1994 in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Samed was diagnosed with a rare endocrine disorder called acromegaly, which is caused by an excess of growth hormone in the body.

Aside from struggling with finances, he is also battling with his health.

Recently, Awuche and his family appealed to the public to assist him get medical support.

In a latest development, the McDan CEO said his wife and children encouraged him to pay the entire cost of Awuche’s medical treatment and to ensure that he was going to live a longer, healthier and a happier life when he invited the young man to his home.

He urged parents to step out with their children and offer a helping hand to the community as he always does with his children.

Below is a text by the CEO:

For me, being a parent is priceless. I understand that my kids are going to have certain privileges that I didn’t have, so, I need to teach them values like hard work and respect, and instill in them the desire to help and serve others.

More than anything I could hand to them, I want to teach them about benevolence and charity.

If I raise them to practice the importance of sharing what they have, something I believe will carry them through life, I’ll be a proud father.

This is why I was privileged to invite Sulemana Abdul-Samed [Awuche], the tallest man in Ghana, into my home to meet my family and see how we could help him with his chronic ulcer and excess growth hormone issues.

My wife and kids consistently whispered into my ears to pay the entire cost of Awuche’s medical treatment and to ensure that he was going to live a longer, healthier, and happier life. As I have always known, I’m lucky to have a big, supportive family that is compassionate towards other people. That truly warms my heart.

If you’re a parent, step out with your child and offer a helping hand to the community.

Because, trust me, one of the most satisfying and productive things you can pass on to them is the importance of sharing what they have with others.

 

Source: Ghana Web

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McDan Foundation brings smiles on faces of widows, aged in N/R

The McDan Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) wing of the McDan Group of Companies has feted over 1,000 aged women and widows in Tamale and its environs. The widows were drawn from Sola and Yendi. The Foundation provided them with food items whilst Daniel McKorley presented thousands of gift packs containing cloth, scarf, sardines and soaps and a crate of eggs each to the widows. In an address, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of McDan Group of Companies, Mr Daniel McKorley urged corporate Ghana to give back to the less privileged in society. He said the McDan Foundation has been feeding widows for over six years but it was a herculean task which can only be undertaken nationwide with the support of all corporate bodies in the country. “Every time, I call on corporate Ghana, I call on corporate individuals. Government cannot do it all, so corporate Ghana must come in so Ghana will be a better place,” Mr McKorley stated. He said “This is not about McDan, but it is about the benefit to the people. I have been doing this not today, and not only for the widows. I believe sincerely that God is blessing me and it is my responsibility to give to others and be a blessing to them.” He also advocated for corporate bodies to come to the aid of street children and homeless people by funding their education and providing them with jobs.

 

Source : GhanaWeb

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McDan Foundation commissions shea nuts processing factory in West Mamprusi Municipality

A shea nut processing factory, Alkoh Shea, has been commissioned by the McDan Foundation and handed over to Alhassan Hamza Akoligo, a young entrepreneur at Nasia, a community in the West Mamprusi Municipality in the North East Region.

The factory, constructed under the auspices of the McDan Foundation, is to boost the efforts of women in the community to increase production and add value to their shea nuts.

This vision by the McDan Foundation came to light when Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alkoh Shea Butter, Alhassan Hamza Akoligo, took part in the McDan Entrepreneurship Challenge season one and was declared as the winner.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony Daniel Mckorely who is the founder of the Foundation and Chairman of the McDan Group of Companies, in a short remark, stressed that the McDan Foundation also walks the talk by helping the needy and building billionaires in various communities in the country.

According to him, Mr Akoligo is a true patriot because he has promised to empower women in Nasia to increase the shea business chain as their main economic venture.

He said women empowerment was key to accelerating the achievement of inclusive national development and encouraged the women to make maximum use of the facility to increase income generation and improve their livelihoods.

Dr Mckorely noted that the shea processing factory would encourage community members to desist from destroying the shea trees for charcoal and other activities.

He pointed out that Mr Alhassan Hamza Akoligo has been mentored on how to run the business, adding that “most of the challenge is the person behind the business.”

Dr Mckorely, who was happy about the shea nut business, then supported Alkoh Shea Butter with a Truck to help supply and gather raw materials for production.

Chief of Nasia, Mazurana Abdullah Mahami, commended the McDan Foundation for helping the son from their soil establish a factory to help kick away poverty from the community.

He continued that the elders, including the Chief, will ensure the factory achieves its aim, stressing that women will no longer cut down trees for living but rather focus on skill training to get some for living.

Mr Akoligo, who was excited by the gesture done him by the McDan Foundation, promised to manage the factory for it to get branches in other regions across the country.

He called on the younger generation to remain focused on entrepreneurship and never lose hope in job creation.

 

source : JoyOnline

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McDan donates car to Ga Adangbe Youth Association

Founder of the McDan Foundation, Daniel McKorley better known as McDan has donated a car to the Ga Adangbe Youth Association in Abokobi, a suburb of Accra.

The 2021 registered Nissan 4×4 pick up was handed over to the Youth Chief of Abokobi, Nii Ayaafio Tetteh I, on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. The car is to aid the work of the youth association in the region.

McDan who has been the backbone of the Ga Adangbe identified one of the limitations of the most Ga Dangbe Youth Association was the unavailability of a vehicle to assist them in their movements, hence, the need to donate a car.

Benard Korley who represented McDan in handing over the car noted that, “I was sent by McDan to donate this pick up to the Ga Adangbe Youth Association.”

“We all know the work they have been up to. They have been active in the development of the Ga state. So this is the little help McDan has to offer to them to ensure that their work runs smoothly,” he added.

The Oblantei Mantse [Youth Chief of Abokobi], Nii Ayaafio Tetteh I in receiving the car expressed his heartfelt gratitude to McDan for honouring his promise and prayed for more blessings on the life of McDan.

He said, “I have had a good relationship with McDan he has been very supportive. In one of our recent conversations, he enquired if we had a car which helps us in our work and we said no.”

“He promised to help us get one and today, we are very grateful that he has come to our aid. He has done a lot for the Ga’s and we will continue to support and pray for blessings and long life for him,” Nii Ayaafio Tetteh I stated.

 

 

Source: JoyOnline

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