Raymond Archer vs. Daniel McKorley: Business Rivalry or State-Sponsored Revenge?

Raymond Archer rose to prominence as a fearless journalist. His newspaper, The Enquirer, was widely read in the early 2000s, exposing corruption and shady dealings within Ghana’s political and business elite. Archer embodied the archetype of the crusading journalist, unapologetically targeting individuals and institutions that wielded unchecked power. His Cadillac Escalade with the customized plate “Google” became a symbol of his brash confidence — he was a man who saw and revealed everything.

Archer later transitioned into business, setting up a state-of-the-art printing press. But his success was short-lived. In 2016, under the NPP administration, Daniel McKorley’s company McDan Shipping was accused of moving in with state support to dismantle Archer’s business empire. Years later, when Archer became head of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) under the NDC, EOCO led operations that destroyed McDan’s warehouses, raising questions about whether the law was being applied—or weaponized.

Daniel McKorley’s own story reflects a classic tale of ambition. Rising from humble beginnings, McKorley founded McDan Shipping in 1999. He built it into a logistics empire spanning aviation, freight forwarding, and oil services. His big breakthrough came when he secured key shipping contracts during the early 2000s, which expanded further under the NPP government. Today, McDan represents Ghanaian entrepreneurial grit, but critics argue that his ascent was cushioned by political alliances and privileges.

‍
The Archer–McDan saga reveals more than a clash between two powerful men. It exposes how business rivalries in Ghana are often proxies for political warfare, with state institutions weaponized for revenge. As Ghanaians debate whether this was genuine enforcement or vendetta, one question lingers: was this truly a battle of business titans—or state-sponsored revenge?