Former Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku‑Mantey, has warned the government against establishing individual museums for celebrities.
According to him, such actions could backfire politically.
In an interview on Hitz FM on August 4, 2025, Okraku‑Mantey noted that such action could lead to calls for similar favors to be done for other celebrities, eventually leading to unnecessary costs and political pressure.
“Government should not show any interest in any museum for any celebrity. A government can become unpopular out of this. By just taking steps to do it for one person and not doing it for the other person. It can bring problems.
“Very soon somebody will say ‘why did you do this for Lumba and you didn’t do it for that person?’ he said.
He added, “Government can create the enabling environment. Things like giving up the land for the private sector to invest,” he said.
Okraku‑Mantey cited the recent Daddy Lumba candlelight vigil, highlighting how government provided the resources while the private sector did most of the work.
“Like the candlelight vigil, government created the enabling environment, that is why the Daddy Lumba team and the private sector got involved,” he added.
Okraku‑Mantey emphasised that the private sector is best equipped to manage and maintain such infrastructure.
“They are the ones who can maintain these infrastructure. The government’s infrastructure itself are struggling,” he said.
His comments come on the back of calls for an edifice to be constructed by the government in honour of the late Highlife icon Daddy Lumba, who passed away on July 26, 2025 at the age of 60 in Accra.
ID/EB
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