Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC), Prof. Kobby Mensah, has revealed that lobbying for positions is not part of his personal or professional philosophy.
Speaking on Starr Showbiz with Feeling Daddy on Starr 103.5 FM on Saturday, July 12, Prof. Mensah explained that while many people believe lobbying is necessary to attain leadership roles, he has always shunned it because he sees it as undue pressure on decision-makers.
“I don’t lobby because I tell people that, you know, when you are lobbying somebody, you’re putting undue pressure on them. People who know me know that I don’t put undue pressure on people. It is not my style. I feel that if you think I can do something and my name comes to mind, you consider me,” he stated.
According to him, his approach is to position himself as competent, professional, and skilled so that people will naturally consider him when opportunities arise.
“So always my aim is to make sure that I put myself in a position where people find me competent. And that means you have to have the right attitude, the right connections, and the right skill set. Naturally, you will come to mind,” he explained.
Prof. Mensah added that lobbying forces people into difficult situations, something he finds uncomfortable. “I hate putting people in tight corners. Lobbying is trying to put people in tight corners. So I don’t do that. I shy away from putting people under immense pressure to say, consider me. Why should you consider me? There are equally better people. I would allow you to make a decision on me.”
Touching on perceptions that he is involved in frontline politics, Prof. Mensah clarified that although his academic background is in political marketing, he is not a politician.
“People misunderstand what I do. I went to school and did my PhD in political marketing, and naturally, it brings me close to politics because I studied strategy and political strategy. I tell people that I learned how to get politicians to win elections, but I don’t help people to win elections because I am not into politics myself.”
He explained that his comments on political issues are purely strategic and academic, focusing on media psychology, voter behaviour, and campaign strategy, which are all part of his expertise in political marketing.
Prof. Mensah also disclosed that he has played strategic roles for politicians over the years, especially in election seasons, as a consultant and analyst, but maintains strict professional ethics by never working for competing candidates within the same election.
READ: Mahama appoints based on competence, not party loyalty – Prof. Kobby Mensah
Reflecting on how he was appointed as GTDC boss despite not being a card-bearing member of any political party, Prof. Mensah said it boiled down to competence and the president’s confidence in his ability to deliver.
“The president feels that people who can help achieve the goals are actually given the opportunity to do that. I don’t think it is because I’m the only competent person, but perhaps he felt I could do a better job,” he explained.
He further stressed that politics should not be treated as an investment for personal returns, unlike business investments that expect direct financial profit.
“You don’t support a political party because you put in 100,000 cedis expecting an ROI of 150,000 cedis. Politics is not business investment. People misunderstand that. You support a political party because you believe they are better governors who can ensure collective good for everybody.”
READ: Politics is not a business venture – GTDC CEO schools party financiers
Prof. Mensah concluded by highlighting the importance of competence, strategy, and understanding in any field of leadership, insisting that lobbying for positions is simply not part of his character.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
