Nestled on 41,000 acres of land in Ada, Ghana, is Africa’s largest salt mine, with the potential to generate $6 billion in revenue.
Its owner, Daniel McKorley, known as McDan, shares the remarkable journey of overcoming years of obstacles and skepticism to bring his vision to life, defying decades of failed attempts by others.
According to mobile.ghanaweb.com, narrating his story, he said for 55 years, attempts to develop this land had failed until he took up the mantle.
“The whole place looked like a football field, people were destroying the land with their galamsey salt mining activities. The land was not properly tilted,” one of his workers recalled.
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He recounted having to summon extraordinary courage to pursue the project, even questioning whether he was making a stupid decision or not.
“You need courage to do this. I drove past this land sometime ago. This is a place where over 55 years, anybody who tried failed. Nobody could come here and succeed. In the beginning, I asked myself whether I was doing the right thing or I was being stupid.
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“It hasn’t been an easy journey, if you don’t have the guts and what it takes, you will stop by the way,” he told Wode Maya in an interview.
He added, “99% of people will say you are wrong. It’s either you are making a mistake or you’re making history. We haven’t reached anywhere yet, but I believe we have come too far to be making mistakes.”
The salt mine currently produces about 600,000 metric tons annually, and McDan, who sees room for further growth, aims to increase production to 1 million metric tons.
When asked why he undertook such a major business venture, typically managed by the government, he explained, “We’re living in a country where some of us had to be pacesetters and also dare. We cannot always look at foreigners and the outside world that they can do what we cannot do. In my policy, I can. I also have some good people around me who read my vision and said they would go with me.
The salt mine which began active operations two years ago now employs over 3,000 workers, including those not directly on the payroll.
When asked if he considers himself a billionaire, McDan replied, “I think so.”
