Mark Okraku Mantey reveals why he sabotaged the promotion of Shatta Wale’s songs on Hitz FM

Mark Okraku Mantey and Shatta Wale

Mark Okraku Mantey, a former Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture and President of the Creative Arts Council, has now revealed why, while serving as the station's programming manager, he once stopped Shatta Wale's songs from being promoted on Hitz FM.

In an interview with Fiifi Pratt on Aluta FM, Mark revealed that upon taking over as manager of Hitz FM, he became aware that the station was not drawing well-known musicians for interviews, a problem he believed required immediate remedy.

"I realized the station wasn't getting the big artists for interviews when I was asked to manage Hitz FM, so I had to change the face of the station to make it more showbiz-oriented," he stated.

In order to improve Hitz FM's entertainment image and listener appeal, he claims that one of his strategies for rebranding the station was to invite elite performers to do interviews. But Shatta Wale, who at the time had close relations to Pluzz FM, opposed his efforts.

"Shatta Wale turned me down for interviews on Hitz FM because he was loyal to Pluzz FM," he stated.

Mark recalled, "he told me straight out that he didn't want anything to do with Hitz FM."

The seasoned entertainment executive disclosed that the statement did not sit well with him and that, as a result, he firmly decided not to promote Shatta Wale's songs on the station.