Mark Okraku-Mantey is a former Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture
Former Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Mark Okraku‑Mantey, has called on members of the creative arts industry to properly acknowledge his contributions, particularly the construction of regional amphitheatres, during his time in office.
In an interview on Accra-based Aluta FM, Okraku-Mantey stated that one of his key initiatives was to push for the building of five regional amphitheatres — located in Accra, Tema, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale — and that he regrets not being able to complete them before leaving office.
“We got a lot done. I pushed for the government to construct the amphitheatres, and I pray this government finishes it up,” he said.
He also urged industry stakeholders to better understand the role of a minister, emphasising that their duties involve policy formulation, while operational tasks such as event organisation fall under agencies like the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Copyright Authority of Ghana (CAA).
“I noticed that most of the people in the industry don’t even understand the job of a minister. I remember when a radio presenter called and asked why I hadn’t organised a show. I said the job of a minister is to draft policies. The events fall under the agencies; the GTA, CAA and others,” he pointed out.
Okraku-Mantey further recalled an exchange with media personality Berla Mundi and her team, who, he claims, accused him of inaction.
“Berla Mundi and her colleagues started an agenda against me, but nothing was done. I showed her the pictures and she said she would apologise on behalf of her team member,” he recalled
The former deputy minister expressed frustration at the creative sector’s focus on his legacy with statements such as “What has Mark done?” rather than on forward-looking collaborations and industry development.
According to Okraku-Mantey, funding constraints hindered the completion of the amphitheatres during his tenure.
In an earlier interview, he noted that while a World Bank-backed fund had been secured, increased project costs required additional financing which delayed delivery on the works.
Watch the video below:
ID/AE
