Desmond Darko: How a school dropout rose from fuel attendant to entrepreneur

Entrepreneur, author, and animal-rights activist Desmond Darko is using his journey from a roadside plantain business to the corporate world to inspire young people, while challenging Ghana to rethink its approach to unemployment, galamsey and business ethics.

From selling roasted plantain to support his mother to becoming an entrepreneur with interests in fuel retail, real estate, construction, oil and gas and car rentals, Mr Desmond Darko’s journey is a story of resilience, hard work and determination.

The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Young Dee Group shared his experience on*** Joy FM’s Personality Profile***, where he reflected on the challenges that shaped his career and his desire to contribute to society through business, writing, and animal-rights advocacy.

Mr Darko’s journey was far from conventional. After leaving senior high school in his second year, he worked as a farmer, fisherman, cook, gardener, domestic worker, shoemaker, and construction worker before finding his way into the oil marketing industry as a fuel pump attendant.

He eventually rose through the ranks at Shell Ghana to become a supervisor and station manager, managing several stations, including Airport Shell, which was described during the interview as a leading Shell station in West Africa.

His success, he explained, came from treating his responsibilities seriously and working as though the business belonged to him.

“I’m somebody that always wants to give back to society. I always want to share what I have,” he said, explaining what inspired him to become an author.

Today, Mr Darko operates three Shell-branded fuel stations and has expanded his business interests into other sectors. Meanwhile, he says the experience of working at the grassroots level remains central to how he approaches entrepreneurship.

He advises prospective fuel station investors to learn the business from the ground up instead of investing solely because they believe the industry is profitable.

According to him, understanding the operational realities of a business is crucial to avoiding mistakes and building a sustainable enterprise.

**Unemployment, galamsey and Ghana’s mindset
**Beyond business, Mr Darko has strong views on issues affecting Ghana’s development, particularly unemployment and illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey.

He believes the unemployment debate must consider not only job availability but also work ethics, creativity and the ability of employees to demonstrate their value.

Additionally, he argues that government support for private businesses is important because the private sector plays a significant role in creating employment opportunities.

On galamsey, Mr Darko views the problem as extending beyond illegal mining itself, arguing that the mindset and economic circumstances of affected communities must also be addressed.

He believes efforts to tackle the practice should include viable alternative livelihoods for communities that depend on mining for survival.

These perspectives feature in his writing, particularly The Ghanaian Mindset, which examines attitudes and behaviours he believes influence individual and national development.

The next volume of the book was scheduled for launch on November 12, 2026, at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra, according to the interview.

**Turning experience into knowledge
**Mr Darko has written seven books covering subjects including personal development, wealth, football, resource management and car ownership.

His titles include The Hidden Costs of Car Ownership, The Ghanaian Mindset Volumes One and Two, Damaged Mind, Damaged Resources, The Mystery Behind Football and The Real Money Rituals. His profile also lists The Kingdom of the Creator.

In The Hidden Costs of Car Ownership, he draws on his experience in the oil industry to educate motorists about overlooked issues, including fuel selection, refuelling practices and decisions involving vehicle repairs.

CFAO Motors Ghana, he said, produced a special edition of the book for customers purchasing Mercedes-Benz and Mitsubishi vehicles.

Additionally, The Real Money Rituals explores honesty and trust in business, highlighting how dishonest practices can damage relationships and undermine confidence.

Nonetheless, Mr Darko acknowledges that business success also requires caution. He recounted an experience in which he invested in a filling station before signing a formal agreement with its owner, leading to disagreements over the terms.

The experience taught him that trust should not replace proper documentation.
His advice to entrepreneurs is to establish clear agreements before committing money, regardless of personal relationships.

**Faith and perseverance
**Mr Darko attributes part of his journey to his Christian faith and believes young people should remain honest, grateful and persistent despite their challenges.

His story, from leaving school to managing fuel stations and building businesses, reflects his conviction that a difficult beginning does not have to determine a person’s future.
“God’s time is the best,” he said in his closing message to listeners.

For Mr Darko, his achievements are not only about building businesses but also about sharing lessons that can help others make better decisions.

Through his entrepreneurship, writing, and animal-rights advocacy, he hopes to encourage young people to recognise their potential while challenging Ghanaians to rethink the attitudes and practices that affect personal success and national development.