Mark Okraku-Mantey

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 school.[2] He holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and an executive master’s degree in Leadership and Governance, both from Central University.

Okraku-Mantey started his career as a Disc Jockey in 1996 on Joy FM. He subsequently became a producer whilst helping some Ghanaian artistes produce their music for airplay. In 1996, he started an entertainment and music company dubbed 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 include 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 of his career, Okraku-Mantey ventured into the movie industry when he became the executive producer for Efiewura, a popular Ghanaian comedy series which airs on TV3.[7][5] He also served as a judge on TV3 Mentor, a music reality show for several years since its launch in 2006.[7]

Okraku-Mantey is also a member of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards board. He was the Programs Director 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 2018 Ghana DJ Awards for his service and contribution to the DJ profession in Ghana.[2][9]

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 Presidential 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 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 in 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 play writer 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]

On Friday, July 15, Okraku-Mantey picked forms to contest the Ayensuano (Ghana parliament constituency) seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP.) [26]