Business magnate and Chief Executive Officer of the McDan Group of Companies, Dr Daniel McKorley, has called for an urgent and deliberate private-sector–led transformation of the Volta Region, which he says holds the potential to generate up to $9 billion in annual economic value.

Speaking passionately at the Volta Economic Forum under the theme “Harnessing the Volta Corridor Economic Potential for the 24-Hour Economy Take-off,” Dr. McKorley urged entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to move beyond speeches and act decisively to unlock the region’s wealth.

“Everybody is talking about investment, but I was talking about revenue,” he said. “The Volta Region can generate nine billion dollars. Is it our attitude, or are we just not deliberate?”

Private Sector as the Engine of Regional Growth

The McDan CEO said the region’s natural resources, from stone, salt, and timber to tourism and agriculture, remain largely untapped, despite their immense commercial value.

He described the quality of stones to be far more superior than others, he mentioned that inthe area of Afadjato there are at least seven types of valuable stones. These he said are millions of dollars sitting idle.

Dr. McKorley announced that the McDan Group is developing a major salt mine project in Keta, which he described as part of his personal commitment to transforming the region through investment and innovation.

“I’m developing the biggest salt mine in Africa,” he said. “Yes, there are challenges, but we’re scaling through. I’m moving into the Volta Region to start operations and develop it.”

Tourism, Aviation, and Logistics as Catalysts

Beyond extractives, he identified tourism and aviation as critical levers for regional development, citing the Volta Region’s unique topography, waterfalls, and cultural heritage as key assets for high-value tourism.

“You can have the longest cable car in the world near Afadjato Mountain. This region can be a tourism powerhouse,” he said, referencing the area’s “health tourism” potential, including traditional waterfalls believed to have healing powers.

Dr. McKorley also revealed plans to expand his aviation business into the Volta Region, creating an entry point for investors and private jets.

“I want to see private jets flying here into the Volta Region with investors. Let’s take this region seriously,” he stated.

Youth, Creativity, and the 24-Hour Economy

Dr. McKorley described the Volta Region as a “sleeping giant” with a youth population exceeding 70 percent, stressing the need to empower young people through entrepreneurship, innovation, and vocational training aligned with the 24-hour economy agenda.

“We have to be creative. We have the youth, and we must develop them,” he said. “The 24-hour economy is a good concept, but it only works if we start acting.”

He urged both government and the private sector to work in partnership, emphasizing that the region’s transformation cannot rely solely on state intervention.

“We are waiting for government to come to our aid, but we have what it takes as the private sector to take a move in our own small way,” he said. “If we start, I believe government will step in.”

Dr. McKorley challenged local leaders and investors to adopt a mindset of deliberate action and risk-taking, describing the Volta Region as one of Ghana’s most resource-rich but underexploited frontiers.

“The Oti Region alone is a very rich region. We have all the minerals we need,” he said. “But in every way, we have to start with a single step, no matter how long the journey will be.”

The Volta Economic Forum, attended by government officials, investors, and policymakers, forms part of Ghana’s broader push to build regional growth centers capable of driving the 24-hour economy through private investment, innovation, and industrial transformation.