Veteran highlife musician and songwriter Rex Owusu Marfo, better known as Rex Omar, has disclosed that Mark Okraku Mantey, who is now the deputy Minister of Tourism in Ghana, was fired from Multimedia Group Limited (which operates Hitz and Joy FM) for playing the popular song “Abiba.”
“Abiba” is a song known for its sexually suggestive lyrics and was released over a decade ago, but it remains popular even today.
The Chairman of the Interim Directors of the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), Rex Omar shared that there was initial resistance to the song from Ghanaian radio stations for about six months after its release due to its lyrical content.
Despite Omar’s efforts to craft the lyrics in a way that wasn’t explicit, many radio stations were uncomfortable playing “Abiba” on air. Rex Omar stated that Mark Okraku Mantey, who was working at Multimedia Group Limited at the time, was dismissed from his job for playing “Abiba.”
However, as the song gained popularity and became a hit, Okraku Mantey was later recalled by his boss to bring back the song for airplay. This incident ultimately led to a close friendship between Rex Omar and Mark Okraku Mantey.
Rex Omar’s revelation sheds light on the dynamics of the Ghanaian music industry and the challenges artists and broadcasters can face when dealing with potentially controversial content.
