Mark Okraku Mantey and Abeiku Santana
Former Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey has raised concerns over the appointment of Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, popularly known as Abeiku Santana, as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) while he continues to host a drive-time show on Okay FM during official working hours.
In an interview on Joy FM, Okraku Mantey questioned the appropriateness of Abeiku’s dual roles.
“Why is Abeiku Santana going on air, holding a public office, and still working at Okay FM,” he asked.
He emphasized that such actions could be in breach of Public Services Commission regulations, which typically require public servants to dedicate official hours solely to their governmental duties.
Abeiku Santana was appointed as Deputy CEO of the GTA in February 2025. Known for his extensive career in media and tourism advocacy, Abeiku Santana has been a prominent figure in promoting Ghana’s cultural heritage and tourism sector.
Despite his new governmental role, he continues to host the drive-time show on Okay FM, a position he has held since 2010.
Okraku Mantey further argued that the media landscape in Ghana is not as neutral as often perceived, suggesting that media practitioners holding governmental positions should fully commit to their public service roles. He cited the example of Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who resigned from his media career before entering politics, as a model for separating media and governmental responsibilities.