Mark Okraku Mantey has been appointed as the Deputy Minister-designate for Tourism, Arts and Culture.
His appointment comes after months of rumours and mixed reactions from persons in the industry about his possible selection.
When approved by Parliament, he is expected to work with sector Minister Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal to ensure the growth of the entertainment industry.
Prior to the official announcement, some creative arts people including 3Music Network CEO, Sadiq Abdulai Abu, Kwesi Ernest, Ashes, Mr Logic among others supported the idea of having him work at the Ministry.
Some of them stated that it will be good to have a person familiar with the industry at the helm of affairs.
But, Dancehall artiste Shatta Wale had said he does not think Mr Okraku-Mantey can help the industry adding that he does not have knowledge about the music industry to assist in its growth.
Others including Blakk Rasta and movie producer Ola Micheal have also expressed their disapproval in the selection of Mr Okraku Mantey.
About Mark Okraku-Mantey
Mark Okraku-Mantey is not a new figure in the music and movie industry in Ghana. He has been working with artistes and movie producers for years.
He started working as a DJ in 1996 on Joy FM but later became a producer when he began helping an artiste produce his music for airplay.
He later started a company dubbed Slip Entertainment to manage artistes.
One of the most popular artiste many know to have worked with him is Lord Kenya. He did not only manage the Hiplife artiste but also produced some of his biggest hits and albums including Sika Baa.
He worked with Oheneba Kissi on his ‘ABC of Love’ hit and Dassebre Gyamena on ‘Kokoko’, both songs selling thousands of copies. They are still regarded as some of Ghana’s best songs.
Other artistes he worked with include Akyeame, Adane Best, Joe Frazier, Kudjo Sasu, Felix Bell among others.
Some albums that have been under his umbrella include Nana Tuffour’s – ‘Tontonte’, Kojo Ashkan’s – ‘Me Nse Ato Biso’, Felix Bell’s – ‘Butterfly’, Ohene Kissi’s – ‘Kabiribiri Kyere Me’, Akyeame’s ‘Brebre Obaa Hemaa’, Lord Kenya’s ‘Sika’ and Daasebre Dwamena’s ‘Kokooko’
At some point, he became the executive producer for the popular Efiewura comedy series which was airing on TV3. He was also a judge on TV3 mentor which launched in 2006.
Mr Okraku-Mantey also helped organise some of Ghana big events including the MTN Highlife Festival. He is also a member of the Vodafone Ghana Music Award board.
He is currently the Programs Director at Hitz FM a subsidiary of the Multimedia Group.
Mr Okraku-Mantey has been active in politics after openly declaring his support for the New Patriotic Party. He has subsequently championed the party’s vision for the creative arts industry.
He has been working as the President of the Creative Arts Council since 2017 when the NPP gained power.
He worked with the former Minister of Tourism Barbara Oteng Gyasi to get the issues of persons in the sector resolved.
Mr Okraku Mantey was also instrumental in getting the Creative Arts Bill passed.
In December 2020, he said that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is committed to fulfilling all its promises to the sector in its second term.
Mr Okraku Mantey explained that the government met an ineffective system in the creative arts sector when it assumed office in 2017 for which reason the administration is building new systems from scratch.
