I am increasingly discombobulated by the optics of Ghana's emerging breed of freelance journalists and social media political commentators, whose growing influence over public opinion has become an unavoidable force in our contemporary political landscape. More troubling, however, is the apparent inability or unwillingness of political parties, particularly the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), to develop pragmatic strategies for engaging this new political reality without undermining constitutional freedoms or compromising democratic accountability.
Make no mistake: the influence of these commentators is no longer peripheral to Ghanaian politics. It is increasingly consequential, and political parties that underestimate their reach do so at their own electoral peril. The irony is that parties with well-articulated manifestos, ambitious development agendas and supposedly realistic roadmaps for national transformation can find their political narratives overshadowed by individuals whose commentary, satire and social media productions command enormous public attention. Governments, particularly those in power, stand the greatest risk of suffering the electoral consequences.
When the subject of freelance political commentary comes up in Ghana, Kelvin Taylor, through his Loud Silence Media programme, With All Due Respect, inevitably occupies a prominent position. His programme, which airs on weekdays, has built considerable popularity through its uncompromising, sometimes abrasive and often controversial treatment of national personalities and political developments. His approach has attracted both admiration and condemnation, particularly because his criticism frequently transcends the boundaries of conventional political discourse.
Having followed his programme religiously for years, I have observed what I consider an interesting but deeply troubling relationship between Kelvin Taylor and Ghana's two major political parties. His political standing appears to fluctuate with the changing fortunes of these parties. In one political season, he becomes an indispensable voice, an angel whose commentary exposes the failures of the opposing political establishment. In another, he suddenly becomes a devil whose methods, credibility and motives are questioned by those who previously celebrated his interventions.
What explains this political schizophrenia? The answer, in my estimation, lies in the transactional or undercuttings and opportunistic manner in which political parties sometimes relate to influential commentators. Their relevance is celebrated when their commentary advances partisan interests and questioned when the same commentary becomes uncomfortable. Consequently, political actors who should ordinarily be concerned about the broader implications of such influence become willing participants in elevating personalities whose eventual independence they may struggle to manage.
Kelvin Taylor has, over the years, become a formidable political voice, not necessarily because he possesses constitutional authority or holds an elected position, but because political parties themselves have helped elevate his relevance. His influence is now such that political actors across the political divide appear to pay considerable attention to his commentary. Indeed, one would be hard-pressed to discuss Ghana's contemporary political communication landscape without acknowledging the place he occupies in it.
But there is another emerging personality whose political influence deserves the immediate attention of the NDC leadership: GH Koose.
Unlike Kelvin Taylor, whose prominence is largely associated with confrontational political commentary, GH Koose initially established his following through comedy and artistic social media productions. His transition into increasingly outspoken political commentary has, however, introduced a new dimension to Ghana's digital political landscape. His videos are gaining traction, his audience is expanding, and his criticisms of the John Dramani Mahama-led administration and the governing NDC are becoming increasingly difficult for the party to ignore.
I have followed GH Koose for a considerable period, even before his transition into the political commentary space. What makes his current trajectory particularly interesting is the combination of an established entertainment audience, humour, political satire and increasingly confrontational commentary. This combination has the potential to make his messages accessible to audiences who might not ordinarily follow conventional political discussions.
I am not privy to whatever circumstances may have informed his apparent disagreement with the governing party, and neither am I interested in speculating about any private dealings between him and political actors. However, his self-professed NDC membership makes his current political posture an issue deserving serious reflection within the party.
Let me be unequivocal: my contention is neither about his constitutional right to freedom of expression, his objectivity, patriotism, nationalism, economic interests nor his decision to venture into political commentary. These are legitimate democratic freedoms. My concern is the potentially debilitating electoral consequences of the growing narratives emerging from his productions, particularly if the governing party continues to approach the situation with complacency.
The NDC must understand that political communication has changed considerably. The electorate no longer depends exclusively on traditional media houses, political party communicators or organised campaign platforms to form political opinions. Social media has democratised political commentary, giving individuals with substantial followings the capacity to influence conversations, shape perceptions and challenge established political narratives.
More importantly, political satire has a peculiar ability to communicate complex criticisms in ways that conventional political arguments sometimes cannot. A few minutes of entertaining but politically charged content can travel farther, resonate more deeply and remain in public consciousness longer than an elaborate government press statement.
This is where GH Koose becomes particularly consequential. The governing party may be tempted to dismiss his productions as mere comedy, partisan exaggeration or the grievances of a disgruntled individual. That would be a grave political miscalculation. The danger is not necessarily that every allegation or criticism he advances is accurate; rather, it is that repeated exposure to particular narratives can gradually shape public perception, especially when the government fails to provide credible, timely and persuasive responses.
And the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) will certainly not require an invitation to exploit any political vulnerability created by such narratives. With floating voters, undecided citizens and sections of the electorate already susceptible to competing political messages, the cumulative effect could become an uncomfortable electoral liability for the NDC as the December 7, 2028 general elections approach.
The fact remains that the Ghanaian electorate is immeasurably gullible and surreptitious to the marrow, and anything goes for them. You won't believe it that they are my biggest problem, to heavily cost the fortune of the party come next the cycle of electoral polls if this is the trajectory, with GH Koose video continually being released and hitting hard at government, most especially. The NPP party can cause an upheaval with floating voters clearly feeding into the narrative borne by GH Koose.
More often than not, I am particularly concerned about the electorate's susceptibility to emotionally charged political narratives, often without sufficient interrogation of their factual foundations. Unfortunately, political parties sometimes discover the consequences of allowing unfavourable narratives to consolidate only when electoral damage has already been done.
The lesson from Kelvin Taylor should be instructive. Political parties cannot selectively celebrate influential commentators when their messages are politically convenient and subsequently condemn their methods when the political winds change. Such hypocrisy does not eliminate their influence; it reinforces their prominence and sometimes makes them appear even more consequential.
Therefore, my advice to the NDC leadership is simple: do not underestimate GH Koose, and do not make the mistake of treating his growing influence as inconsequential. If the party has genuine concerns about his commentary, it should pursue constructive engagement, establish channels for internal dialogue and address any legitimate grievances that may exist. If he has criticisms of government policies, those criticisms should be examined on their merits rather than dismissed because of their source.
This is not a call for political inducement, censorship, intimidation or any clandestine arrangement to purchase favourable commentary. Far from it. It is a call for political intelligence, institutional maturity and strategic communication. The government must also recognise that the most effective response to damaging narratives is not necessarily another commentator defending it, but demonstrable performance, transparency and accountability.
The NDC cannot afford to become complacent simply because it occupies government. Electoral fortunes are not secured by the enthusiasm of party loyalists or the applause of political sympathisers. They are secured by public confidence, credible governance and the ability to communicate achievements while confronting legitimate public concerns.
My greatest apprehension is that the party may be concentrating too heavily on the immediate political discomfort created by GH Koose while overlooking the longer-term implications of his growing audience and influence. By the time the electoral consequences become obvious, the damage may be considerably more difficult to reverse.
Political parties must understand that the new kings of Ghanaian political communication do not necessarily occupy party offices, sit in Parliament or hold government appointments. Some operate from their bedrooms, studios and social media platforms, yet command audiences that established political institutions can only envy.
The NDC must wake up to this reality sooner because when it comes the debilitating effect will sieze to be Carnot cycle with the reality carrying an immeasurable cost of the electoral fortunes of the ruling party come 2028 December, 7 . Indeed, the 2028 electoral contest will not be fought exclusively on the traditional political battlefield. It will also be fought in the digital space, where perceptions are manufactured, narratives are contested and political reputations can be built or dismantled within hours.
I offer these thoughts not as an adversary of the governing party but as a concerned card-bearing member whose only available assets in this conversation are his voice, observations and convictions. It is never too late for the party to reflect, reassess its approach and engage intelligently with the changing dynamics of political communication.
The greatest political mistake is not having critics; it is underestimating their influence until their voices become louder than your achievements.
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