UG Alumni Association Honours KGL Boss’ Father With Centre at Legon

The University of Ghana Alumni Association (UGAA), in partnership with the University of Ghana, has commissioned the Alex A. Dadey Centre at the University of Ghana, Legon, in honour of Dr Alexander Apau Dadey Snr., a distinguished Ghanaian educationist and administrator whose career was dedicated to education, public service, mentorship and national development.

The centre was officially commissioned on Friday, October 23, 2026, in recognition of Dr Dadey Snr.’s contributions to Ghana’s education sector and his lasting influence on students, professionals and institutions.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, members of the university’s management, leaders of the University of Ghana Alumni Association, Mr Alex Apau Dadey, son of the late educationist and Founder and Executive Chairman of KGL Group of Companies, as well as other dignitaries from academia and corporate Ghana.

Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo highlighted Dr Dadey Snr.’s longstanding relationship with the University of Ghana, where he studied and later served as a member of the University Council from 1978 to 1985.

His seven-year service on the council cemented his place among its long-serving members, during which he contributed to the university’s governance and development.

Professor Amfo also recalled that Dr Dadey Snr. benefited from the mentorship of renowned academic Professor Alexander Kwapong during his time as a student at the university.

Beyond his association with the University of Ghana, Dr Dadey Snr. established himself as an influential figure in Ghana’s education sector, holding several leadership positions and helping shape educational administration and policy.

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.

His career in school administration also included serving as headmaster of Achimota Senior High School and Okuapeman Senior High School, where he contributed to the management and development of the institutions.

Paying tribute to his father’s life and influence, Mr Alex Apau Dadey, Founder and Executive Chairman of KGL Group of Companies, described him as a man of exceptional discipline, integrity, credibility, humility and intellectual curiosity who remained committed to public service.

According to him, his father’s life was guided by the conviction that education was more than a pathway to personal success. Rather, it was a powerful instrument for transforming individuals, strengthening society and advancing national development in Ghana and across Africa.

Mr Dadey Jnr. said the values he learnt while growing up under his father’s guidance continued to shape his understanding of success, leadership and responsibility.

He explained that his father taught him that a person’s achievements should not be measured solely by the wealth accumulated but also by the lives positively influenced, the opportunities created for others and the institutions strengthened for the benefit of the country.

Dr Dadey Snr. also instilled in his children and mentees the importance of protecting one’s reputation, teaching them that a good name was worth more than material possessions.

His philosophy, according to his son, was that the greatest legacy was what a person left behind to benefit others long after departing this world.

Touching on the family’s philosophy of wealth creation and distribution, Mr Alex Apau Dadey said the family believed successful individuals and businesses had a moral responsibility to support the communities and institutions that contributed to their growth.

“As a family, we believe in a moral responsibility to give back to society and the institutions that nurtured us, shaped our character, and provided the foundations for our success,” he stated.

He explained that the establishment of the KGL Foundation was rooted in this conviction and in the values and family traditions passed down by his father.

Mr Dadey Jnr. said the foundation’s approach was based on the principle that wealth creation and wealth distribution were inseparable responsibilities.

“Wealth creation and wealth distribution are two sides of the same coin,” he emphasised.

He added that the family believed the accumulation of private wealth should go hand in hand with reinvestment in the communities and institutions that made business success possible.

According to him, a truly successful business must create wealth for shareholders, opportunities for employees and lasting prosperity for the communities in which it operates.

Through the KGL Foundation, the family seeks to institutionalise this commitment by transforming the proceeds of enterprise into sustainable social and economic benefits for Ghanaians.

As part of its commitment to education and national development, the KGL Foundation is scheduled to commission several legacy projects between October and November 2026.

Among the projects is an ultra-modern, fully equipped technology centre with a capacity of 250 people at Aburi Girls’ Senior High School.

The facility is expected to provide students with access to technology and support learning in an increasingly technology-driven educational environment.

Another major project is a multimillion-dollar, state-of-the-art sports complex for Mfantsipim Senior High School in Cape Coast. The facility forms part of the foundation’s efforts to support educational institutions and promote sports development.

In the health sector, the KGL Foundation is partnering with the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to construct a multimillion-dollar, ultra-modern diagnostic centre at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, popularly known as Ridge Hospital.

The project is intended to strengthen diagnostic services and contribute to healthcare delivery at one of Ghana’s major referral hospitals.

The foundation has also partnered with the Eve Medical Foundation to establish the multimillion-dollar KGL Eve Medical Centre at the KNUST Medical Village in Kumasi.

The centre specialises in women’s wellness, mental health and general medical services, expanding the range of healthcare services available to patients.

These projects form part of the family’s broader commitment to translating its philosophy of giving back into tangible investments in education, healthcare and other areas of national development.

Beyond large-scale infrastructure projects, the KGL Foundation has provided financial support to Ghana’s national football teams, juvenile football and the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

Its contributions to football form part of its wider support for sports development and the growth of the country’s sporting sector.

The foundation has also provided scholarships to thousands of students through its various initiatives, helping beneficiaries pursue their education.

These interventions reflect the foundation’s stated commitment to supporting young people, strengthening institutions and creating opportunities for individuals and communities across the country.

To ensure the long-term sustainability and proper maintenance of the newly commissioned Alex A. Dadey Centre, the KGL Foundation will assume full responsibility for funding the facility for the next 20 years.

The commitment is intended to support the centre’s continued operation and preserve its value as a lasting tribute to Dr Alexander Apau Dadey Snr.

The commissioning of the centre adds to the recognition of Dr Dadey Snr.’s contributions to education and public service, while reflecting the family’s stated determination to preserve his values through investments that benefit future generations.

Through the centre and its wider philanthropic initiatives, the Dadey family seeks to sustain the legacy of an educationist who believed that learning, integrity, service and institutional development were essential to Ghana’s progress.