Former Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mark Okraku-Mantey, has publicly questioned the professional conduct of renowned broadcaster Abeiku Santana, accusing him of violating the ethical boundaries expected of public office holders.
During an interview on Joy FM, Okraku-Mantey expressed concern that Abeiku Santana, despite being a staff member of the Ghana Tourism Authority, continues to host a regular radio show on Okay FM during official working hours.
“Why is Abeiku Santana going on air? He holds a public office and he’s still working at Okay FM, and everyone is quiet about it. Abeiku Santana works for the Ghana Tourism Authority, and during office hours he is still on air at Okay FM,” he said.
Okraku-Mantey pointed out that while he had not personally reviewed the full scope of public service laws, both the Constitution and ministerial guidelines make it clear that public servants are not permitted to engage in private work during official hours.
“You cannot use office hours to do any other job. What would be acceptable is if he hosted a weekly show dedicated to promoting tourism or culture, and did so voluntarily in alignment with his official responsibilities,” he suggested.
His remarks have ignited renewed discussion around the enforcement of professional ethics among public office holders.
Many are now calling for clearer regulations and accountability measures to prevent similar conflicts of interest from undermining public trust.
