Politics is not for monetary gain –Nduom

The Flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) in the 2012 elections, Dr. Papa Kwasi Nduom, has advised the youth to desist from venturing into politics with the sole purpose of becoming rich.

Expressing concerns over the sudden interest of many young people in politics, he said the perception that politics was an opportunity to make money was very disturbing and needed to be corrected.

“If you want to be wealthy, politics is not for you. Politics is about service and sacrifice. Ghanaians should learn to go into politics to serve, and not to amass wealth,” he said.

Dr. Nduom made these comments when he delivered a lecture on the theme, ‘Becoming an entrepreneur, Nduom’s perspective,’ in Accra last Thursday evening.

According to him, some politicians had become wealthy and owned businesses and other properties, but the source of their wealth was not known.

He challenged politicians to make the source of their wealth known to the general public so that the youth, who saw them as role models, would be inspired and guided by their stories.

He urged the youth to redirect their thoughts and energies towards becoming entrepreneurs if they really wanted to become wealthy because politics was not a source of wealth.

Dr. Nduom, who, aside politics, is a celebrated entrepreneur, said despite the risks involved, entrepreneurship was one sure way of moving the nation out of poverty and entreated young people not to shy away from entrepreneurship.

He, therefore, called on the government to invest in the development of young entrepreneurs to spearhead the country’s development agenda.

Dr. Nduom said good entrepreneurs formed the bedrock of every developed society, not good politicians, and stressed the need to breed young entrepreneurs to lead the country out of poverty.

He said countries like the United States had seen a lot of development because their governments had put the necessary structures in place to support entrepreneurship.

“We need to invest in nurturing home-grown entrepreneurs who can bring solutions to our problems,” he said and urged the government to help to remove the challenges that prevented people from aspiring to be entrepreneurs.

The two-time flagbearer in the 2008 and 2012 elections on the tickets of the Conventions Peoples Party (CPP) and PPP respectively, stressed the need to amend the constitution for the president of the country to pay taxes.

According to him, the number one citizen of the country ought to pay taxes to demonstrate to the entire citizenry of the importance of paying taxes.