The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of McDan Group of Companies, Dr. Daniel McKorley has launched his autobiography titled, “The Path of an Eagle: Despair, Hope & Glory” last Friday, June 25, 2021 at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City Accra.
Dr. McKorley, a multiple award-winning Entrepreneur and accomplished Business Leader is also a generous Philanthropist who has supported many children, youth, orphans, young entrepreneurs among others, through his humanitarian outfit, the McDan Foundation.
In publishing his autobiography, Dr. McKorley seeks to share his life story and the inspiration behind his accomplishments and encourage people, especially the youth to strive harder to realize their dreams and help make our beloved nation a better place for future generations.
In commemoration of this 50th birthday, Dr. McKorley is adopting 50 children; ranging between the ages of 7 and 19 and sponsoring their education from basic level up to the tertiary level. This initiative now adds up to a total of 380 children being catered for by Dr. McKorley.
At the autobiography launch, Dr. McKorley also unveiled his latest product, DanAquaDrinking Water. Due to his passion for humanitarianism, all proceeds generated from the sales of DanAqua drinking water will be sent to McDan Foundation to support its many initiatives.
Speaking on behalf of President Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo at the launch of a book, Alan John Kyerematen described Mr. McKorley as “a self-made man” and urged young people in the country to emulate him.
Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Alan John Kyerematen lauded Mr. Daniel McKorley’s achievements saying that, they are testimonies and indications that the Government’s “Ghana Beyond Aid” agenda is achievable.
Mr. Kyerematen stressed that private sector development was the way to deal with youth unemployment and encouraged the youth to take advantage of the Government’s interventions to establish themselves and enhance their lots.
In his address, Mr. Daniel McKorley expressed gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for encouraging him to be “hardworking and patient”.
Mr. Daniel McKorley
Mr. McKorley holds an Executive Masters in Business Administration Degree and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship – both from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.
He also holds diplomas in Leadership and Transport and Logistics.
Mr. McKorley has a wealth of experience in the freight forwarding, haulage, logistics and the private security industry – both locally and internationally – making him a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Commonwealth University, London Business School, United Kingdom.
He had earlier dropped out of the University of Ghana because he could not pay his school fees and had to work very hard to support himself, and thus only attained a university degree some 15 years later.
In November 1999, he started the McDan Shipping Company, which is headquartered in Accra, Ghana.
The Company has business links with more than 2000 major air and seaports worldwide, with the Universal Freight Organisation, Cross Trades and World Cargo Alliance (WCA) as its partners.
Mr. McKorley has had many honors, including the Achievers Award by West Africa Regional magazine, Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of West Africa Nominee in 2015, and the Entrepreneur of the year in 2016.
He has also been awarded the Freight Forwarding and Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013, and the CIMG Marketing Man of the Year 2017.
The launch of the autobiography was preceded by a lecture and mentorship on trade with African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Dr. Daniel Mckorley is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the McDan Group of Companies with presence in over 2000 major air and seaports worldwide due to its partnership with Cross Trades and World Cargo Alliance (WCA).
Dr Daniel Mckorley has become a household name in the country largely because of the success of his fleet of businesses, and philanthropy.
However, not so many people are familiar with his full life story.
Aside being a commercially astute executive, Dr. McKorley has demonstrated his humanitarian side beyond expectation by his continuous search for opportunities to make an impact in the lives of people with great potential to help change the narrative about mother Ghana.
The Path of an Eagle – Despair, Hope and Glory
In his book “The Path of an Eagle – Despair, Hope and Glory,” the multimillionaire business investor, and arguably Ghana’s most decorated CEO, offers the reader an insight into his upbringing, struggles and triumphs.
It is a book inspired by his first wife, Abigail Mckorley and gives a step-by-step account of his life and how the various experiences of his upbringing have shaped him in general.
“If l have attained this height in life, then everyone can,” Dr. Mckorley said.
As a man driven by impact, he is of the view that this book will inspire the youth and provide them with life lessons and a shoulder to lean on when life rushes to a tailspin.
According to him, he has built his whole life around the characteristics of the eagle – a bird that is very intelligent, more focused, resilient, unrelenting and most successful at its adventures. Coincidentally, his native Ga name also means ‘Eagle’.
Sharing his inspiration with the audience at the launch, he said the life of the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela has taught him forgiveness. That of Singapore’s former Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, has taught him determination while that of President Akufo-Addo has taught him patience.
The celebration is also a precursor to his 50th birthday on June 26. As part of his birthday celebration, the McDan Foundation has offered scholarships to 50 children between the ages of seven to fifteen years to cushion their lives from basic school through to tertiary level.
Further to this, the McDan Emerging Business Awards has also been launched to honour highly innovative and hardworking entrepreneurs. The Dan Aqua mineral water was also unveiled, which proceeds will go into the coffers of the McDan Foundation in furtherance of his numerous philanthropic work.
The launch of the autobiography attracted traditional rulers across the country, Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers of corporates, business moguls and politicians.
The event was interspersed with musical and theatre performances, alongside the display of the four million-dollar philanthropic projects of the McDan Foundation, across the country.
Citations and other accessories were presented to him by his first wife, the chiefs from the Northern and Volta regions. And he was installed by the Volta chiefs as a development chief for the region – his third of such titles having previously been entailed by the chiefs of Ada and Dagbon.
Dr Daniel Mckorley is widely known for the McDan Entrepreneurship Challenge, his contribution to the socio-economic development of Ghana and his philanthropy in the areas of education, entrepreneurship, health, sports and others.
Copies of his autobiography were freely given out to everyone who attended the launch.
The first copy of the book was given to President Akufo-Addo.
Mr Mc Korley has also announced the adoption of 50 orphans to mark his golden jubilee.
The event was interlaced with different cultural performances by the Ghana Dance Ensemble and poetry performance by Chief Moomen.
