The Deputy Creative Arts Minister, Mark Okraku-Mantey, has shared some challenges he faces from his time as a judge on Mentor years ago.
As a key member of the judging panel, Okraku-Mantey was known for his strict and no-nonsense attitude.
Focused on his job and determined to find the best talent, he did not hesitate to reject contestants who were not performing at their best.
Years later, a former Mentor contestant, Nene Narh, claimed during his performance at the launch of the 2024 National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC) on Tuesday, August 6, that he had been rejected by Okraku-Mantey during an audition.
Responding to Narh’s claims, Mark Okraku-Mantey candidly stated that being a judge on the music reality show has become problematic for him.
He explained, “The challenge is that each episode of Mentor had over 2,500 participants.
Over 6 seasons, that’s more than 12,000 people, making it difficult to remember each one.”
He continued, “And it has become a problem for me now because some of them are true some of them are not true but how am I going to tell the difference because, I don’t remember them but this very one I do …Yes, I do”.
Mark Okraku-Mantey further praised Nene Narh, stating, “I am happy he has become a better person and I am proud of him.”
The launch of the 2024 NAFAC attracted numerous high-profile attendees, including the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, Bono East Regional Minister, Kwasi Adu Gyan, and the Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture, Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong, among others.
The festival is scheduled to begin from October 25 to 31 in Techiman, Bono East Region.
