Cultivate can do spirit – KGL Group Executive Chairman urges youth

The Executive Chairman of the KGL Group, Alex Apau Dadey, has challenged the youth of Ghana to cultivate the can-do spirit by working hard to make meaningful lives.

He said with commitment and dedication to duty, the youth could exploit the opportunities in the system.
Speaking on ‘Personality Profile’ on Joy FM hosted by Lexis Bill on Thursday, October 19, 2023, Mr Dadey used his life journey as an example, saying he knew he could do it, and he worked very hard to reach his goal as a successful entrepreneur.

According to him, there were some hurdles in his way but with dedication and hard work, he overcame them.
“Transiting was tough and it needed dedication to overcome the hurdles.”

Overseeing chain of businesses
Responding to how he manages to oversee his chain of businesses, the 62-year-old who was recently adjudged the Man of the Year at the 8th Exclusive Men of the Year (EMY) Africa Awards, said, “I take my business seriously. That is the legacy we can leave to our children .”

Diaspora interest
A passionate advocate of diaspora affairs, Mr Dadey said, through tha , he has been encouraging the diaspora community to come home to invest.
“Ghana needs its diasporas back to accelerate national development,” he said.

Social responsibility
Mr Dadey said the KGL Group sets aside 5 per cent of its profit annually for social responsibility initiatives.”That is what we have been doing all these years. This is right because we have to give back to society.”
He said the company is considering increasing the quantum.

Using wealth
The KGL Group boss said it was proper for the wealthy in society to use their wealth to do good things. “Don’t use your wealth to do bad things. For me, I don’t use my wealth to harm people.”

Mr Dadey said in his company, he treats everybody with respect saying that is one of the ways to go if you want to run a successful business.

Education
Walking the host through his education from the basic school through to Mfantsipim School to the University of Ghana, Mr Dadey said the journey had been worthwhile.

His father, a man he describes as a strict disciplinarian, was a former headmaster of Mfantsipim School. “I was aware my dad was a strict disciplinarian and I couldn’t afford to go wayward.”

Mr Dadey’s association with business started at a young age while in school. “As a young man at Mfantsipim, I was passionate about business. My mother had a small shop where I used to help her to sell,” he told the host of the programme.

England
Leaving to England after graduating from the University of Ghana, the started studying Accounting at post graduate level but dropped off , and found a job in London as a business executive. At that time, his father was a lecturer at the University of Birmingham. “I was earning £100 a week. In between, I did some cleaning jobs.”
Mr Dadey said he then set up a textile company in Manchester, which grew over the years to become a giant, dealing in about 25 countries.