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For years, Mzbel wore her political loyalty almost as visibly as her music career. But after losing fans, gigs and business opportunities over her outspoken support for the National Democratic Congress, the veteran musician says she has finally had enough of the partisan politics rollercoaster.
Speaking with broadcaster Kafui Dey, Mzbel reflected on her long association with the NDC and explained why she no longer wants to belong to any political party.
Her political connection, she explained, goes all the way back to her upbringing in Jamestown and her admiration for the late former President Jerry John Rawlings. According to Mzbel, support for Rawlings and the NDC was deeply woven into the environment in which she grew up.
That childhood connection eventually became active political participation.
Mzbel said she began using her considerable social media reach to promote the party and its campaigns, particularly because her posts could attract significant attention online. At the time, she believed strongly in the cause and became one of the celebrities openly associated with the NDC.
But politics, she says, eventually sent her career a bill she was not expecting.
According to Mzbel, publicly declaring her political allegiance cost her part of her fanbase. She also said she lost performance opportunities and business deals because organisers associated with opposing political interests no longer wanted to work with her.
One incident she recalled involved a show where she was reportedly removed from the lineup shortly before the event because of the political affiliation of the guest of honour. She also said some international performances were cancelled after promotional flyers featuring her had already been released.
Basically, the political badge came with an unexpected entertainment industry surcharge.
And according to Mzbel, the challenges did not stop at losing gigs.
She said she also faced insults, attacks and threats from some individuals within the political camp she supported.
The singer has previously expressed disappointment over what she described as a lack of support after the NDC returned to power following the 2024 election. She said she had expected opportunities to perform at government-linked entertainment events but felt those expectations were not met.
Now, Mzbel says the experience has taught her a lesson.
She stressed that she does not hate the NDC, but she no longer wants to identify herself with any political party.
Her new political résumé is considerably shorter.
No party colours. No campaign bus. No partisan battlefield.
Just Mzbel, the musician, entrepreneur and Ghanaian.
“I’m not NDC. I’m not NPP. I’m not. I’m nothing. I’m just a Ghanaian,” she said.
And perhaps that is the biggest plot twist in this particular political story.
After years of publicly carrying the flag for one political tradition, Mzbel has decided that her next chapter will be written without a party logo in the corner.
Because in showbiz, losing a gig hurts.
In politics, apparently, you can lose the gig, the fans, the peace of mind and still be expected to smile for the campaign flyer.
