Mark Okraku Mantey: We Hoped Nana Addo Had Won The 2008 Elections

Some showbiz personalities yesterday endorsed the candidature of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). They comprised film actors, musicians, sound engineers, song and scriptwriters, instrumentalists, music and movie producers and several others who have come together to form a group called Creative Arts for Change. They include hi-life musician Kwabena Kwabena, movie producer and Public Relations Officer of the Film Producers� Association of Ghana (FIPAG) Socrates Sarfo, music producer Mark Okraku Mantey and Fredyma, a sound engineer and music producer. The rest are actresses Vivian Jill Lawrence, Mercy Asiedu, Auntie B. of �Efiewura� fame; Opanin Katawere, Bill Asamoah, C-Zar, Naa Agyeman and many others who visited the home of Nana Akufo-Addo to assure him of their support for the December 7 polls. Speaking on behalf of the group, Mark Okraku Mantey said they hoped Nana Addo had won the 2008 presidential elections because the NPP had very good plans for the creative arts industry. �We know that God�s time is the best. These policies you articulated in 2008 are still fresh in our minds and we have come here in our numbers this morning to assure you of our unflinching support for your campaign and, God willing, a victory in December. �Some of the people that were with us in 2008 are not here with us today, but we want to let you know that we continue to believe in your policies and good plans that you have for the Ghanaian people.� Nana Akufo-Addo thanked the group for what he described as a �generous gesture�. �I am happy that my policies for the industry have resonated well with you, for which reason you have decided to endorse my candidature�The policies that I have outlined for your industry remain unchanged and on the 14th of November in Kumasi, I will be addressing a forum on arts and culture where I will outline, one more time, my vision and plans for the creative industry.� The NPP presidential candidate explained that the creative arts industry, if well managed, could generate huge revenues for the country�s economy and also make the industry players prosperous. �As Attorney General, I worked directly with MUSIGA to ensure that your intellectual property is protected because that is the only way we can guarantee the industry and its growth and ensure that you will be the biggest beneficiary of your own intellectual property,� he stressed.