Ghana: Mark Okraku Mantey gets deputy arts minister nomination

The nomination was made public in a statement by the Presidency on 21 April. Okraku Mantey is among 18 deputy ministers submitted to Parliament for approval by the appointments committee.

If approved, Okraku Mantey, who is also the interim president of the Creative Arts Agency and the business unit director at Hitz FM, will deputise Ibrahim Mohammed Awal.

Several months before his appointment, Okraku Mantey, a known supporter of the ruling New Patriotic Party who campaigned for Akufo-Addo through the Creative Arts for Change collective, was rumoured to be in line for the position, alongside former Musicians Union of Ghana president Bice ‘Obour’ Osei Kuffour, Ghana Tourism Authority CEO Akwasi Agyeman and filmmaker Juliet Asante, among others.

Dancehall star Shatta Wale was among a number high-profile artists opposing his consideration for the post. “We can’t give another person the chance to mess things like the way they're blaming Obour now,” Shatta Wale told Hitz FM in February.

But fellow music producer and entertainment pundit Kwesi Ernest held a different view. “Okraku Mantey for the last four years was the Creative Arts President,” he told Joy Prime. “He came and championed for the structures we need for the creative arts space to be established and even making sure that the Creative Arts Bill is passed.”

Sadiq Abdulai Abu, the CEO of 3Media Networks, told Music In Africa that the nomination of Okraku Mantey was a step in the right direction.

“One of the things that the music industry has consistently been asking for is for the appointment of people with a certain level of insight regarding the sector,” he said. “Mark comes to the table with over 20 years of experience working in the space.

“You also take a look at the role he played at the Creative Arts Council and overseeing the passing of the Creative Arts Bill. After passing the bill, there has to be an overarching policy direction in terms of how it will be executed. As somebody who oversaw the whole process, it would be better to have him there. I’m quite confident that with Mark being there, once there’s a commitment from the government, he would be the perfect guy to oversee some of the key activities that the government has promised for the sector to happen.”

Okraku Mantey begun music production in 1996. As the founder of Slip Music, he has worked with artists including Oheneba Kissi, Lord Kenya, Daasebre Gyamena, Adane Best, Akyeame and Kumi Guitar. He was also an executive producer of TV comedy series Efiewura.