Okraku Mantey, against the wave, has defended Ayorkor Botchwey on her comments towards John Dumelo.

The president of the Creative Arts Council has claimed that the comments have been taken out of context and are not as harmful as his colleagues are making it out to seem.

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration minister had earlier aimed a dig at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, John Dumelo.

“It is a serious place; I will tell him; the laws of the country are enacted in parliament. If our President can continue his job very well, he needs Lydia Alhassan in Parliament to do the job so that all you need as a constituency will be easily given to you,” she said this in her mission to canvass votes for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate, the minister said.

The comments have generated diverse comments in the creative industry.

Most of the prominent figures have demanded a retraction and an unqualified apology from the government appointee.

Okraku Mantey however has defended the comments.

READ ALSO:

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey didn’t speak well - Counselor Lutterodt defends John Dumelo

He made a submission on Peace FM’s Entertainment Review, as he said that the comments were taken out of context.

“There is a perception that John Dumelo is riding on his popularity so she was commenting about John Dumelo who is contesting Lydia Alhassan. Lately, John has done some interviews, he has shown his weakness in state governance and politics. Some have misconstrued her, they think she was taking a dig at creative persons but I’m saying she never made a generic statement,” Okraku Mantey clarified.

“Kojo Oppong Nkrumah [Information Minister] is from the media which is also a creative space. Nobody labels Kojo Oppong Nkrumah ‘weak’ or ignorant and that is because he knows what he’s about. This is to juxtapose that there are people who have shown they know what they are about and it must be noted that if you have a shortfall, around this time, it will be used against you. So Shirley noticed John has not been following governance but wants to be an MP.”

He stated that Ayorkor Botchwey has tried for the creative arts therefore he has no right to slander her with his words.

“She was the chairperson for the 2016 creative arts manifesto team. That is an indication she knows our space. She does not devalue us in any way. When we went to Cabinet as regards our Creative Arts Bill, the parliamentarians said they were tired so it should be postponed. She was the one to say no, she has an interest in creative arts,” He concluded