A resurfaced video from July 2023 featuring Raymond Archer, the current Acting Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), has ignited a firestorm of controversy on social media, thrusting Ghanaian businessman Daniel McKorley, popularly known as McDan, into the center of public scrutiny.
In the viral clip, originally aired on Radio Gold, Archer warns McDan to “pray that his government stays in power forever,” a statement that has fueled heated discussions about political favoritism, business rivalries, and the role of state institutions in Ghana.
The video’s re-emergence has amplified ongoing debates about McDan’s business empire, with trending sentiments on X painting a polarized picture of the entrepreneur.
Archer’s Warning and Its Context
In the 2023 interview, Raymond Archer, a veteran investigative journalist and businessman, cautioned McDan, Chairman of the McDan Group of Companies, about the vulnerability of his business success under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
“Now they came for my business. McDan, he has to pray, you know I don’t talk too much, but he has to pray that his government stays in power forever,” Archer stated, alluding to the demolition of his multi-million-dollar printing press during the 2020 redevelopment of the Ghana Trade Fair Center.
Archer accused McDan of benefiting from government favoritism, particularly through the allocation of resources like a lagoon and the displacement of thousands of livelihoods to support McDan’s ventures in aviation, mining, and resource management.
The video has struck a chord online, with many interpreting Archer’s words as a prescient warning given his recent appointment as EOCO boss and the intensified scrutiny of McDan’s businesses under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.
Public Sentiment on X
The viral video has sparked a wave of reactions on X, where McDan’s name is trending alongside hashtags like #McDan and #EOCO. Public sentiment is deeply divided.
Critics have seized on Archer’s warning, accusing McDan of thriving under political patronage.
One user, @GhanaFirst, posted, “McDan’s empire was built on NPP favoritism. Now that NDC is in, his lagoon deals and Trade Fair moves are crumbling. Archer saw it coming!”
Another, @TruthSeekerGH, wrote, “McDan called our youth lazy, but who’s lazy when you get whole lagoons handed to you? EOCO better dig deep.”
Conversely, McDan’s supporters have rallied to his defense, praising his contributions to Ghana’s economy.
@ProudGhanaba tweeted, “McDan employs thousands and is building Africa’s biggest trade complex.
This is a witch-hunt by Archer and NDC cronies!” The Jesuits of Gadaŋme Diaspora, a vocal supporter, posted, “McDan’s philanthropy and vision for Ghana are unmatched.
These attacks are just envy disguised as justice.” The polarized reactions highlight the contentious nature of McDan’s public image, with some viewing him as a visionary entrepreneur and others as a beneficiary of political connections.
Archer’s New Role and ORAL Appointment
Raymond Archer’s appointment as Acting Executive Director of EOCO in April 2025, following his tenure as Acting Deputy Executive Director, has added fuel to the controversy. His elevation came after Abdulai Bashiru Dapilah’s reassignment to the National Security Secretariat.
Archer, known for his investigative journalism and leadership of the Opponent’s Research Group (ORG) since 2019, has a track record of exposing financial misconduct.
His role in drafting the Economic and Organised Crime Act (2010, Act 804) bolsters his credentials, but his past criticisms of McDan have raised questions about impartiality.
Archer’s nomination to President-elect John Dramani Mahama’s “Operation Recover All Loot” (ORAL) committee in December 2024 has further intensified scrutiny. The ORAL initiative, aimed at recovering misappropriated state assets, has led some to speculate that Archer’s leadership at EOCO could target McDan’s businesses, especially given the viral video’s resurfacing.
Investigations and Allegations.
McDan’s business empire, spanning aviation, mining, and real estate, is under investigation by multiple state agencies, including the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
On April 28, 2025, the GRA requested McDan to submit all annual tax returns, a move critics link to Archer’s influence.
Social media posts, like one from @AccraWhistle, claim, “EOCO, OSP, GRA—all closing in on McDan.
Archer’s old warning wasn’t just talk; it’s a roadmap.” Supporters, however, argue that these probes are politically motivated. The Committee for Public Accountability (CPA) has labeled them a “vindictive campaign,” pointing to McDan’s role in transforming the Ghana Trade Fair site into a projected $1 billion trade complex by June 2025.
The Trade Fair Demolition Saga.
The feud between Archer and McDan stems from the 2020 demolition of businesses at the Ghana Trade Fair Center, where Archer’s companies, Universal Labels and Packaging Co. Ltd (UNIPACK) and Colour Planet Limited, were destroyed.
Has McDan seen this video of Raymond Archer ? pic.twitter.com/vhw5vtvhod
— 🇬🇭god Amongst Men (@officiallordy) May 29, 2025
Archer claimed the demolition, valued at $10 million, violated a court injunction and accused McDan, then Board Chairman of the Ghana Trade Fair Company, of orchestrating it.
McDan countered that no equipment was destroyed and offered Archer space in the redeveloped pavilion, a gesture Archer dismissed as insincere. This dispute remains a flashpoint, with X users like @Justice4AllGH stating, “McDan displaced businesses for his own gain at Trade Fair. Archer’s fight is personal, but is it fair?”
McDan’s Defense and Public Discourse.
McDan has responded to the controversy with defiance, stating in 2023, “I’ve operated under NDC and NPP governments. I will continue my business with integrity, no matter who’s in power.”
His supporters highlight his youth empowerment initiatives and economic contributions, with @GhanaEntrepreneur tweeting, “McDan’s Trade Fair project will create 10,000 jobs. Why target a man lifting Ghana up?” Critics, however, question the transparency of his deals, with @AntiGraftGH posting, “McDan’s lagoon deal smells of corruption. EOCO must follow the money.”
The viral video has sparked broader discussions about the nexus of politics and business in Ghana. As Archer leads EOCO and the ORAL committee, the public awaits clarity on whether investigations into McDan are driven by evidence or personal vendettas. The trending conversation on X underscores a nation grappling with questions of fairness, accountability, and the cost of political transitions.
Looking Ahead.
As Archer assumes his role at EOCO and the ORAL committee begins its work, the spotlight remains on McDan and the broader implications for Ghana’s business community.
The viral video has not only rekindled a personal feud but also raised questions about the use of state institutions in settling disputes.
Whether Archer’s “prophecy” is unfolding or if McDan will weather the storm remains to be seen, but the saga underscores the delicate balance between political power and entrepreneurial success in Ghana.
