Contrary to criticism that he did zilch for as the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey last listed some achievements he made while he occupied the position.
Mark, in an interview with Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM‘s Showbiz A-Z, said although most of his achievements were not tangible they laid the foundation for the growth of the sector.
“Again, relatively, I have said that in the history of that ministry as a Deputy Minister, my achievements there, even that, is still the highest. You can go and check,” he said.
“Even the kente which was listed by UNESCO [as cultural heritage], it was me – to the extent that I got MUSIGA to come on Board, we started [with the listing of] highlife so that highlife will be known as a Ghanaian product. All of that is in the process. Some made noise about event centres, at least when I went there I looked for funding and they are building event centres,” Mark noted.
He also mentioned that he was very instrumental in the promulgation of the Creative Arts Industry Act (1048), the establishment of the Creative Arts Agency and the operationalisation of the National Film Authority.
Mark Okraku-Mantey who served as the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture under the Akufo-Addo government has been heavily criticised stakeholders of the creative industry for not living up to the task when he was given the mantle to be in a political office.
Last week, he said that he would have done better if he were the main minister of the sector and not a deputy. He explained he would have completed the five amphitheatres he proposed if he had been appointed the minister for the sector.
“The job of a follower is to also manage your leader which is your boss. What he believes in, you also believes in it. My job is to convince him, persuade him, talk him into seeing the amphitheatre concept. The love for it will not be the same as the one who midwifed the concept.Â
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