Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, has dismissed claims labeling him as the worst Deputy Tourism Minister.
Addressing the criticism, Okraku-Mantey emphasized that his constitutional role, as outlined in the 1992 Constitution, is to assist and advise the substantive Minister, not to operate as an independent authority.
In an interview on Hitz FM on November 21, he described the accusations as unfounded and based on a misunderstanding of his role.
“I came across Abro’s video claiming I’m the worst Deputy Minister ever in this Ministry. But the roles of Ministers and their deputies are clearly defined in the 1992 Constitution. Unfortunately, some critiques are driven more by emotions than facts,” he said.
He explained that the Deputy Minister’s primary function is to support the main Minister, noting that his contributions are often behind the scenes.
“As a Deputy Minister, my role is to assist and influence my boss, not to take independent actions. In every organizational structure, there’s a chain of command. Instead of asking what the Deputy Minister has done, the real question should be what the Ministry or government has achieved,” Okraku-Mantey clarified.
He also countered comparisons with past Deputy Ministers, arguing that his accomplishments speak for themselves.
“If you claim I’m the worst, then you’re comparing me to my predecessors. But let’s look at the facts—what have previous Deputy Ministers in this role achieved? I’ve contributed to building the amphitheatre, a tangible achievement. Show me what others have done, and then we can have that conversation,” he asserted.
Okraku-Mantey maintained that his record disproves the criticism, reiterating that his efforts have left a lasting impact within the Ministry.