Politics should not be a livelihood - Sam Mills

Politicians should find alternative employment and desist from relying on government, especially when their political party is in power, the National Democratic Congress’ parliamentary aspirant for the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem (KEEA) constituency, Samuel Atta Mills has admonished.

The younger brother of the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills made these comments on Friday July 22 on Class91.3 FM’s Executive Breakfast Show.

He bemoaned the charged political atmosphere in the country ahead of the December 7 elections attributing it to the ‘do-or-die’ attitude of some politicians because their livelihoods depend on what will be offered them when their party wins the elections.

“I think it is because the total livelihood of some people depends on which political party is in power. In other countries, you will find out that politicians [in government] and even those in opposition have jobs. In Ghana, it looks like politics is somebody’s full-time job and when your party comes to power that is when you think you will get whatever you think you will get,” he explained.

For this reason, he said people do all kinds of unfortunate things just to help their party win. Mr. Mills further cautioned individuals at the grassroots level not to engage in violence or activities that will disrupt the peace of the country.

He explained that it is only political ideology that the leaders have differences about, but have close personal relationships.

“Unfortunately there are people in political parties they call foot soldiers, who will fight and beat up each other and sometimes it gets to murder because they feel that is what the big men want and that sends a wrong message,” he lamented, adding: “No one should lose his life because of a political party”.

“If anyone asks you to kill or cause violence, ask him to bring his wife and kids,” he stressed.