Politics is built on loyalty, sacrifice and hard work. Every political party depends on men and women who dedicate years of their lives to building its structures, defending its ideals and winning difficult elections. When those values are abandoned for political convenience, the consequences can be severe.
That is why the growing discussion about broadcaster Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly known as Captain Smart, seeking to replace Richard Gyan-Mensah as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Gomoa West deserves careful reflection.
Richard Gyan-Mensah is not a newcomer to the NDC. He is a card-bearing member of the party who worked tirelessly with party executives, branch members and supporters to wrestle the Gomoa West seat from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Winning parliamentary seats is never the achievement of one individual; it is the product of years of organisation, mobilisation and sacrifice by committed party faithful. Today, he serves not only as the Member of Parliament for Gomoa West but also as the Deputy Minister for Energy, giving the constituency representation both in Parliament and within government.
Captain Smart’s situation is fundamentally different. For years, he was publicly associated with fierce criticism of the NDC and its leadership. One of the most frequently cited examples is his own declaration on live television: “I am not a member of the NDC. I will never vote for the NDC. I will never vote for Mahama.”
These were not words attributed to him by political opponents. They were words he publicly uttered himself. They remain part of the public record and continue to shape perceptions among many NDC supporters.
Today, Captain Smart says he wants to become the NDC parliamentary candidate for Gomoa West. That is his constitutional right as a citizen if he satisfies the party’s rules and membership requirements. But politics is also about trust and consistency. It is therefore understandable that many grassroots members are asking difficult questions.
If someone spent years publicly rejecting the party and its presidential candidate, what exactly has changed? More importantly, why should long-serving party members be asked to step aside? The issue goes beyond personalities. It is about the message the NDC would send to its own supporters.
Every constituency has party executives, polling station executives, branch organisers, youth activists, communicators and ordinary members who have sacrificed their time, money and energy for the party through difficult periods. Many remained loyal when victory seemed impossible. If the party overlooks one of its own, who won the seat and now serves as a Deputy Minister, in favour of someone whose loyalty has long been questioned, what lesson does that teach those faithful members?
Political parties cannot thrive if loyalty appears less valuable than celebrity. Captain Smart has undeniably undertaken community projects in Gomoa West, including mechanised boreholes and other development initiatives, which many residents have welcomed. Development should always be encouraged regardless of who undertakes it. However, philanthropy alone should not automatically become a shortcut to a parliamentary ticket. Public service and party leadership are related, but they are not the same.
If Captain Smart genuinely believes the people of Gomoa West want him to represent them, there is another democratic option available to him. He can contest the election as an independent candidate and allow the electorate to decide directly between him and the NDC’s candidate. That would remove any suggestion that he is seeking to displace a long-serving party member within a party he once publicly rejected.
Ultimately, the decision rests with the NDC’s delegates whenever parliamentary primaries are held. But delegates should ask themselves one simple question: what precedent would be set if a sitting NDC Member of Parliament, who helped win the seat for the party and now serves in government, is replaced by someone who only recently declared his intention to join the party after years of publicly distancing himself from it?
Political victories are difficult to achieve and even harder to sustain. Parties that fail to reward loyalty, consistency and hard work risk discouraging the very people upon whom their future depends.
Richard Gyan-Mensah earned the opportunity to lead Gomoa West through the NDC. If the party chooses to abandon one of its own for someone widely perceived as an outsider, it would be taking a significant political risk, one that could divide its grassroots and undermine the principles of commitment and loyalty that every successful political organisation requires.
