Kwame Agbodza, Member of Parliament for Adaklu and Minister-nominee for Roads and Highways, has advised young people aspiring to enter politics to have a regular paying job before pursuing full-time politics.
According to him, this will allow them to generate sufficient income, as MPs’ salaries are not enough to cover the various daily expenses that come with the role.
“My advice is, before you become a full-time politician, get a day job that you can continue even while serving as a politician,” he said in response to a question from Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin about his advice to Ghanaian youth who aspire to follow in his footsteps.
Agbodza explained, “In my own life, the resources I spend in my constituency largely do not come from my political salary. As you know, our salary, which I show to people in my constituency, is GHS 15,000. After a weekend of attending funerals and community events, I would have spent that entire amount. The rest of what I use comes from my consultancy work and other small ventures.”
He continued, “So, my advice to young people who want to enter politics is to first secure a sustainable day job. Perhaps, it will be easier to establish a profession before you enter politics.”
Agbodza has been the MP for Adaklu in the Volta Region since 2013 and works as a consultant in the construction field.
