The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey has shared his admiration for the renowned playwright Uncle Ebo Whyte.
In the documentary “The Uncle Ebo Whyte Story: A Legacy of Inspiration & Creativity,” Mark Okraku-Mantey described how Ebo Whyte supported him during his vetting process for the Deputy Minister position in 2021.
“When I went for my vetting, I had called several people to accompany me, most of them rejected because they didn’t want any affiliation with politics. But Uncle Ebo was there for me, he didn’t look at the political side, he looked at the relationship he had with me and sacrificed whatever and went with me.”
Mark Okraku-Mantey
Okraku-Mantey noted how Uncle Ebo Whyte’s presence led to a change in the atmosphere of the room shifted dramatically.
Mark Okraku-Mantey
“When I was asked a question about theatre and I mentioned that Uncle Ebo was right behind me, the whole mood in the room changed. They were asking, ‘Oh, is Uncle Ebo here? Where is he? Oh, how come can’t make him out?’ Some of them wanted to connect and network and all of that.”
Mr. Okraku-Mantey highlighted the profound impact of Uncle Ebo’s presence in the creative arts industry, stating “Uncle Ebo is a great man by all standards.”
On the other hand, prominent journalist, Kwame Sefa Kayi shared how renowned Ghanaian playwright and CEO of Roverman Productions, Uncle Ebo Whyte, influenced his career.
He mentioned that he has maintained a close relationship with the veteran playwright, who is also experienced in television and radio broadcasting, seeking his advice when needed.
The Peace FM journalist highlighted that Ebo Whyte’s strong values of strictness and discipline have significantly contributed to shaping his own personality.
“He has always been an inspiration to younger people because of his strong Christian and moral values. He’s always been warm, yet very strict and disciplined. Many people will attest to the fact that he’s been an inspirational figure, whether as a father, uncle, big brother, playwright, or someone active in the public space, from television to radio.”
Kwame Sefa Kayi
“For many, he is known for his stage plays. But for those of us who encountered him earlier, he has always been that pillar you look up to and aspire to be like, even if you can’t be exactly like him,” he said.
Sefa Kayi has been in the media space for quite some time and is recognized as one of the best broadcasters in the country.
He has been the host of the Kokrokoo Morning Show on Peace FM for a long time.
How Statistics Influences Ghana’s Leading Playwright
A popular topic in Ghana today is how many individuals find themselves in careers that do not align with their academic studies. This often leads to the belief that their education was unnecessary.
However, renowned playwright and motivational speaker Uncle Ebo Whyte offers a different perspective.
Ebo Whyte, an alumnus of Osu Presby Senior High School and the University of Ghana, initially trained as a statistician.
Despite this, he has become one of Ghana’s most celebrated playwrights.
He emphasized that no aspect of one’s education is ever wasted.
“Our various callings will find us. And mine found me. And when it finds you, it doesn’t matter what your training has been. The interesting thing is that when it does find you, nothing is wasted.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
“So even the courses you did that you may not be working with will still inform the way you do things,” he explained.
He highlighted how his background in statistics makes him particularly attentive to trends, which he uses to analyze the performance of his shows and helps him decide on future productions based on past data.
“What have been the trends of our shows? So, like this quarter, we will compare this quarter with previous quarters look at the numbers, and decide what is it telling us. What kind of plays would we go for? And that kind of thing.
“And that all comes from the statistics, the marketing, how to ensure that those who have come today will come again and again and again. That comes from marketing. That comes from some of the tools marketing gave me.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
According to Uncle Ebo Whyte, “Nothing is wasted.”
Today, he has more than 50 plays to his name, covering various topics such as family, relationships, faith, and addictions.
His journey is a testament to how different aspects of one’s education can contribute to success in unexpected ways.
READ ALSO: GSE Market Indices Unchanged Despite 49% Drop in Turnover
