Tamale North MP narrates how newsroom poverty chased him into politics

Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, has revealed that his decision to enter politics was partly influenced by the growing demands from people who believed his proximity to influential political figures meant he could solve their personal and financial challenges.

According to him, while working in the media, many people assumed he had access to powerful individuals and resources, leading them to seek his assistance with a wide range of problems. He said the constant pressure eventually made him consider seeking public office.

Speaking at the launch of Newsroom Poverty, a book authored by Abdul Hayi Moomen, Mr. Suhuyini explained that he initially contested for office with the expectation that he would lose, believing an electoral defeat would provide him with a reason to explain why he could not meet the expectations placed on him.

“They just come and they are waiting for you at the reception, and sometimes the aroma at the reception changes and becomes uncomfortable.

People sometimes always mistake popularity for wealth and fortune. They listen to you interview businessmen and political actors and in their mind they are your friends, they are people you can ask for anything from to solve their problems and so they come with all sort of problems.

So I used to operate a clinic at Radio Gold even before I joined politics. One day I sat back and talked to myself about joining politics to wield the power to solve problems.

In my mind, I was hoping that when I come for the elections they will not vote for me so that when they come to worry me next time I will say that is why I said you should vote me and I will help but you didn’t vote for me.

I joined the campaign not hoping to win, I joined to get a message that when people come to me I will use it but I won and I have been winning and I am here. The poverty in the newsroom chased me into the headache of politics and I am happy that we are launching this book that will begin a conversation on this important issue,” he said.

Mr. Suhuyini's remarks underscored the financial pressures faced by many journalists and highlighted how the realities of working in the newsroom can shape career decisions, including the transition into public service and politics.