By Nadia Ntiamoah
The University of Ghana has honoured the late Dr. Alexander Apau Dadey Snr., a distinguished educationist and former university council member, with the commissioning of the Alex A. Dadey Centre at the Legon campus, in recognition of his decades of service to education, public administration and national development.
The facility was officially commissioned on October 23, 2026, through a partnership between the University of Ghana Alumni Association (UGAA) and the University of Ghana. The project celebrates the legacy of Dr. Dadey Snr., whose professional life was shaped by a commitment to educational leadership, mentorship, integrity and public service.
The ceremony was led by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, and attended by university management, UGAA leaders, corporate executives, academics and members of the Dadey family, including Alex Apau Dadey, Founder and Executive Chairman of the KGL Group of Companies and son of the honouree.
Speaking at the event, Professor Amfo recalled Dr. Dadey Snr.’s longstanding relationship with the University of Ghana, where he studied before becoming a member of the University Council from 1978 to 1985.
His seven-year tenure placed him among the Council’s longest-serving members, according to the Vice-Chancellor.
She also noted that Dr. Dadey Snr. benefited from the mentorship of renowned academic Professor Alexander Kwapong during his time as a student, an experience that reflected the importance of mentorship and academic guidance in shaping future leaders.
Beyond his association with the University of Ghana, Dr. Dadey Snr. built a distinguished career in the education sector. He served as National Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) for five years and as President of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) for six years.
He also served as headmaster of Achimota Senior High School and Okuapeman Senior High School, positions through which he contributed to school administration and the development of Ghanaian students. His career placed him at the intersection of classroom education, institutional leadership and national education policy.
KGL Boss Reflects on Father’s Values and Influence
In a tribute to his father, Alex Apau Dadey described him as a man whose life was defined by discipline, integrity, credibility, humility, intellectual curiosity and an unwavering commitment to public service.
The KGL Group executive chairman said his father believed education should serve a purpose beyond individual advancement, functioning instead as a tool for transforming people, strengthening society and advancing national development in Ghana and across Africa.
Mr. Dadey said his upbringing under his father’s guidance taught him that success should not be measured solely by the wealth a person accumulates, but also by the lives that person positively influences and the institutions strengthened for the benefit of the wider community.
He added that his father consistently impressed upon his children and mentees the importance of protecting one’s reputation and building a legacy that would endure beyond material possessions.
According to him, the lesson was that a good name carries greater value than wealth and that the true significance of a person’s life lies in what remains after that person is gone.
The values, he explained, continue to influence the Dadey family’s approach to business, philanthropy and social responsibility.
‘Wealth Creation and Distribution Are Two Sides of the Same Coin’
Explaining the philosophy behind the family’s philanthropic activities, Dadey said the family regarded giving back to society as a moral obligation, particularly to the institutions and communities that helped shape its members and provided the foundations for their achievements.
He said the establishment of the KGL Foundation was rooted in that conviction and in the tradition of service passed down by his father.
The family’s philosophy, he stressed, is that wealth creation must go hand in hand with wealth distribution, arguing that private success should be accompanied by deliberate efforts to support communities and institutions.
“Wealth creation and wealth distribution are two sides of the same coin,” he said, describing the principle as one that should increasingly guide successful African entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Dadey maintained that businesses should not focus exclusively on returns to shareholders but should also create opportunities for employees and contribute to lasting prosperity in the communities where they operate.
Through the KGL Foundation, the family intends to turn that principle into long-term programmes and projects aimed at improving education, healthcare, sports and other areas of national development.
KGL Foundation Expands Education and Healthcare Projects
The commissioning of the Alex A. Dadey Centre comes amid a series of social infrastructure projects being undertaken or supported by the KGL Foundation.
Between October and November 2026, the Foundation is scheduled to commission several projects intended to reflect the Dadey family’s commitment to education and national development.
Among them is an ultra-modern, fully equipped technology centre with a capacity of 250 people at Aburi Girls’ Senior High School. The Foundation is also expected to commission a multimillion-dollar sports complex for Mfantsipim Senior High School in Cape Coast.
In healthcare, the KGL Foundation is working with the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to build a modern diagnostic centre at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, popularly known as Ridge Hospital. The project is described as a multimillion-dollar investment intended to strengthen diagnostic services.
The Foundation has also partnered with the Eve Medical Foundation to establish the KGL Eve Medical Centre at the KNUST Medical Village in Kumasi. The centre provides services focused on women’s wellness, mental health and general medical care.
Beyond infrastructure, the KGL Foundation has supported Ghana’s national football teams, juvenile football and the Ghana Football Association. It has also provided scholarships to thousands of students through its various initiatives, according to the information released about its activities.
These interventions form part of the Foundation’s stated objective of extending the benefits of private enterprise into education, healthcare, sports and other areas considered important to Ghana’s social and economic development.
