Pioneer in the Ghanaian music industry and music producer Mark Okraku Mantey has revealed that he is surprised at the support he has received to get him nominated for the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture position, as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is yet to announce a nominee.
In the past weeks, various media platforms have been flooded with suggestions as to who will deputize Honorable Awal Mohammed especially for the creative arts bit of the Ministry. Several people have come out to suggest Mark Okraku Mantey who served as the President of the Creative Arts Council during President Akufo-Addo’s first term.
They have made a strong case that Mark Okraku Mantey’s track record, including the passage of the Creative Arts Bill into law, and the fact that he was able to organize training sessions for industry players, is enough justification that he would excel, and progress the industry, should he be appointed Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture.
It is at the back of this that Mark Okraku Mantey expressed that he was amazed by the level of support he has received from people, and the pursuit for him to assume the position.
He made this known during an interview on an Accra based radio station.
Mark revealed that he was surprised by the support that was given him. Citing examples of people from the opposition party, NDC, who even wanted him to get the position, he asserted that the creative industry is slowly unifying.
“I’m surprised, because, I had the perception that this industry does not like their own, even Sadiq and Rex Omar, they all support me. You’ve seen how people have supported me, showed me love… This industry is gradually becoming one”.
He however revealed that he had also taken notice of some people in the industry, including NDC’s Ola Michael, who posited that he [Mark], is not cut out for the job. Regardless, he is unperturbed because it is their choice and right to oppose a suggestion.
“As you enter the leadership space, you should train yourself that a lot of people will disagree with you. For me, when I saw the shot of Ola, I said it’s all good. Ola is one person we did things with at the council. If he says the council didn’t do anything, I wonder if the bill was not passed”.
He also added that he will not be disappointed if he is not appointed because it is all part of politics and further intimated that the power to make him a deputy Minister lies in the hands of the President.
“The power is not in my hands, it’s in the hands of one man in the Jubilee House. I shouldn’t get disappointed because, in politics, people go for elections and lose. I qualify to be that person but again, the power is not in my hands, the President means well, so every decision he’d take, I’ll accept because he means well”.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal has been nominated by President Akufo-Addo as Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture.
The former CEO of Graphic Communications Group has been moved from the Business Development Ministry which he had been heading since its creation in 2017 to the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry subject to approval by Parliament.
