Mark Okraku Mantey (call him Ghana?s Simon Cowell) says he?s not as mean as many people think he?s been on TV 3?s ?Mentor? show

For most viewers of TV3 MENTOR, the name Mark Okraku Mantey, has long become a household name. But his comments about the contestants on the show are making him a figure the audience loves to hate. For many ?Mentor? Mark comments ?mean?, ?insensitive? and ?unfair?.

But Mark shares a different opinion. He thinks that there is a reason he was selected to be a judge on the show: he?s more astute in the dynamics of music than most of the show?s viewers.

That?s why he sees the flaws (the ones most viewers overlook) in the wannabe stars. Maybe. Don?t forget: Mark is an executive producer (the CEO of Slip Music) and he?s been responsible for the successes of people like Oheneba Kissi, Lord Kenya and Dasebre Gyamena. He?s also behind the budding career of Okuraseni Samuel, one of the talents unearthed in the first ?Mentor? series.

Mark says those who describe him as ?mean? are not being fair to him because as a judge on the talent show, he needs to be honest and straightforward. However, he takes the criticism in his stride and will continue to do so for as long as he thinks he is doing what is right -- in the interest of the contestants.

?I don?t think I?m mean,? he says. ?I?m just being myself. I have a different ear just like every body else. I think I?m just who I can be, making sure the right thing is done so that when I take [the music] out to sell, I?ll not go bankrupt. Honestly I don?t think I?m harsh at all. I know there are people who will also think there?s nothing wrong with my statements.?

He concedes, though, that he might have been insensitive to the feelings of the contestants on some occasions. But he insists that judges on the show have to be tough on the contestants to get them to give of their best. He says that the judges? comments are to give the contestants a foretaste of what to expect (from the audience) when they bloom to become stars.

?Those who are striving to be recognized in the industry think it?s easy. They are going to encounter worse forms of verbal abuse once they enter the industry. You can imagine artistes being booed at on stage by audiences when they are not performing to a standard. Is it not worse than I do? I?m just preparing them for the tough times ahead. They may even hear worse things when they release their albums.?