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Mark Okraku-Mantey

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Mark Okraku-Mantey
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 January 2021
PresidentNana Akufo-Addo
Preceded byZiblim Barri Iddi
Personal details
Born (1974-01-25) 25 January 1974 (age 50)
Nsawam, Eastern Region
NationalityGhanaian
Political partyNew Patriotic Party
Alma materCentral University
OccupationMusic Producer, Artiste Manager, Politician
ProfessionMusic Producer, Entertainment Administrator

Mark Okraku-Mantey (born 25 January 1974) is a Ghanaian music producer and politician. He is currently the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.

He is the founder and chief executive officer of Slip Mark Entertainment. Mark Okraku-Mantey has worked with several Ghanaian musicians including Lord Kenya, Kumi Guitar, Oheneba Kissi, Daasebre Gyamenah, Akyeame, and Adane Best.

Okraku-Mantey started out as a disc jockey in the 1990s at Joy FM and later became the Programs Manager at Hitz FM, both radio stations owned by Multimedia Group Limited.

Early life and education

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Okraku Mantey is a native of Ayensuano.[1] He attended Datus Complex School (Bubuashie) for his basic school education and proceeded to St. Augustine's College in the Central region for his secondary school education. During his time at St. Augustine's, he was the first student to be allowed to play as official Disc Jockey for the school.[2] He holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and an executive master’s degree in Leadership and Governance, both from Central University.

Entertainment career

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Okraku-Mantey began his career as a Disc Jockey in 1996 on Joy FM. He later transitioned into music production, assisting Ghanaian artistes in producing their music for airplay. That same year, he founded an entertainment and music company, Slip Music and Entertainment (now Slip Mark Entertainment), to produce music and manage artistes.[3][4][5]

In 1998, Okraku-Mantey through Slip Music signed Lord Kenya, a then upcoming Hiplife artiste.[6] He managed Kenya and produced most of his songs and albums including his hit album Sika Baa. He also worked with Highlife artiste Oheneba Kissi on his ABC of Love song and Dassebre Gyamena on Kokoko which featured Lord Kenya. Both songs were big hits and sold over 400,000 copies.[7][2]

Okraku-Mantey has also worked with acts such as Akyeame, Adane Best, Joe Frazier, Kumi Guitar,[8] Felix Bell among others.[7][4] Some albums that he produced include Nana Tuffour’s – ‘Tontonte’, Kojo Ashkan’s – ‘Me Nse Ato Biso’, Felix Bell’s – ‘Butterfly’, Oheneba Kissi’s – ‘Kabiribiri Kyere Me’, Akyeame’s ‘Brebre Obaa Hemaa’, Lord Kenya’s ‘Sika’ and Daasebre Dwamena’s ‘Kokooko’.[7][4][5]

At a point in his career, Okraku-Mantey ventured into the movie industry and became the executive producer for Efiewura, a popular Ghanaian comedy series which airs on TV3.[7][5] He also served as a judge for several years for TV3 Mentor, a music reality established in 2006.[7]

Okraku-Mantey is also a member of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards board. He was the Programs Manager at Hitz FM, a subsidiary of the Multimedia Group from February 2014 to March 2021.

In May 2018, he was awarded with the Ghana DJ Awards Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ghana DJ Awards for his service and contribution to the DJ profession in Ghana.[2][9]

Political career

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Okraku-Mantey is a member of the New Patriotic Party and has been active in politics after publicly showing his support for the party prior to the 2016 Ghana Elections. He was a member of the team that drafted creative arts section of NPP manifesto for the 2016 and 2020 elections.[10][11][12] He has since then been an active creative arts commentator, speaker and spokesperson for the party on several shows and events.[13][14][15]

After the NPP won the 2016 elections, Okraku-Mantey was appointed as the President of the Creative Arts Council in 2017.[16][17] In his role as the president of the council, he was instrumental in getting the Creative Arts Bill passed.

In April 2021, President Akufo-Addo nominated Okraku Mantey as the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.[18][7] There were opposing views prior to and after his nomination from other creative arts members especially dance hall artiste Shatta Wale and reggae artiste Blakk Rasta.[19] He was vetted on 15 June 2021.[4][20][21] At the vetting, there were notable creative arts individuals including musicians Samini, Wendy Shay, Kuami Eugene, actress Akofa Edjeani and award-winning playwright, Uncle Ebo Whyte, who were present to support him.[22][23]

He was subsequently approved on 22 June 2021 and later sworn into office on 25 June 2021.[24][25]

In July 2023, Okraku-Mantey picked his party's nomination forms to contest to become the Parliamentary candidate for the Ayensuano constituency (Ghana parliament constituency) in the 2024 elections.[26] In November 2023, Okraku lost his bid to contest for parliament after he obtained 136 votes to lose to Ida Adwoa Asiedu who garnered 410 votes in the NPP primary.[27]

References

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  1. ^ Ansah, Obed (2021-12-29). "Mark Okraku Mantey Eyes Ayensuano Parliamentary Seat". Bryt FM. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  2. ^ a b c "Ghana DJ Awards to honor Mark Okraku Mantey with Lifetime Achievement Award". Muse Africa. 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  3. ^ Addo, Francis (2021-04-22). "Okraku-Mantey Nominated For Deputy Minister Of Tourism, Arts & Culture". DailyGuide Network. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  4. ^ a b c d "'Highlife Music Will Never Die' — Okraku-Mantey". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  5. ^ a b c "Mark Okraku Mantey, A Pioneer In The Music Industry". GhanaWeb. 20 January 2005. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  6. ^ Yuora, Bridget Aazore (24 January 2018). "Lord Kenya owes Slip Music a lot of gratitude - Okraku Mantey". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Mark Okraku Mantey appointed Deputy Minister-designate for Tourism, Arts and Culture". My Joy Online. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  8. ^ Doe, Esther Eyra (2016-04-11). "Mark Okraku Mantey confirms parting ways with Kumi Guitar". YEN Ghana. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  9. ^ "Ghana DJ Awards: Mark Okraku Mantey presented with Lifetime Achievement Award citation". Kasapa102.5FM. 2018-05-17. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  10. ^ "Hon. Shirley Would Not Devalue The Creative Industry – Okraku Mantey". Entertainment Ghana. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  11. ^ Tali, Selorm (2020-11-06). "Samini and 12 other celebrities who have endorsed the 4 More 4 Nana campaign". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  12. ^ "Mark Okraku Mantey Is The Best Fit For Tourism, Creative Arts, And Culture Ministry – Okyeame Kwame". GhGossip. 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  13. ^ Nartey, Laud (2020-10-22). "NPP has done well for the creative sector – Okraku Mantey". 3NEWS. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  14. ^ "Creative Arts sector is better with NPP than NDC – Mark Okraku Mantey". GhanaWeb. 2020-08-27. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  15. ^ Dadzie, Kwame (2017-07-29). "Gov't to build ultra-modern music studio – Okraku Mantey". Citi 97.3 FM. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  16. ^ Nyabor, Jonas (2017-03-03). "Nana Addo's daughter, Mark Okraku Mantey lead creative Arts Council". Ghana News. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  17. ^ Aglanu, Ernest Dela (1 March 2017). "Okraku Mantey, Akufo-Addo's daughter appointed to Creative Arts Council". Modern Ghana. My Joy Online. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  18. ^ Dadzie, Kwame (21 April 2021). "Mark Okraku Mantey nominated as Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture". CitiNewsroom. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  19. ^ Tali, Selorm (2021-06-15). "Mark Okraku Mantey replies Shatta Wale's 'attack' at parliamentary vetting". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  20. ^ "Appointments Committee vets Mark Okraku Mantey, Herbert Krapa and 2 others today - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  21. ^ Walker Junior, Justice (2021-06-19). "Okraku-Mantey shines at vetting". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  22. ^ "Mark Okraku Mantey vetted! Kuami, Shay, Samini, others, attend in support". Ghana Music. 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  23. ^ Tali, Selorm (2021-06-15). "Samini joins Mark Okraku Mantey for deputy ministerial vetting (VIDEO)". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  24. ^ "Parliament approves Okraku Mantey as Deputy Tourism Minister - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 2021-06-22. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  25. ^ "Playback: Akufo-Addo swears in Charles Adu Boahen and 39 Deputy Ministers". My Joy Online. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  26. ^ Johnson, Reymond Awusei (July 16, 2023). "Mark Okraku-Mantey to contest the Ayensuano Parliamentary primary". Pulse Ghana.
  27. ^ "Okraku-Mantey loses Ayensuano NPP parliamentary primary".
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