“My role is to support the Minister” – Mark Okraku-Mantey addresses claims of being the worst Deputy Minister

Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, has strongly rejected claims labeling him as the worst Deputy Tourism Minister, calling such criticisms misguided and uninformed.

In an interview on Hitz FM on November 21, Okraku-Mantey clarified that his role, as outlined in the 1992 Constitution, is to assist and advise the substantive Minister rather than act autonomously.

“I came across Abro’s video calling me the worst Deputy Minister ever in this Ministry. But the Constitution clearly defines the roles of Ministers and their deputies. Unfortunately, some criticisms seem more emotional than factual,” he said.

He explained that the Deputy Minister’s responsibilities are primarily supportive, often working behind the scenes to ensure the Ministry’s success.

“As a Deputy Minister, my role is to aid and influence the decisions of my boss, not to take independent actions. In any hierarchical structure, there’s a chain of command. The focus should be on what the Ministry or government has accomplished, not on the Deputy Minister’s individual actions,” Okraku-Mantey stated.

Challenging comparisons with his predecessors, he argued that his achievements, such as facilitating the construction of an amphitheatre, set him apart.

“If someone says I’m the worst, they must be comparing me to those who came before. Let’s evaluate the facts—what did past Deputy Ministers accomplish in this role? I’ve built the amphitheatre, which is a measurable achievement. Let’s put those contributions side by side and discuss,” he added.

Okraku-Mantey concluded by affirming that his contributions have had a meaningful impact on the Ministry, urging critics to assess his performance objectively rather than through biased lenses.