It was not only dangerous to report for opposition media those days. It was also difficult to get the news over to Accra from the regions.

There was no WhatsApp.  There was no Tik Tok. There was no telegraph, and there was no facebook.

We sent our stories through the post Office, State Transport, Fax, or reading the news over the telephone or through email. 

There was no impress for this. Whatever we were  doing to get the news over to Accra was part of our contributions to the NPP and the Statesman. 

There was a passion for the job. We also were determined, and we were happy to see stories with our by- lines. 

We weren't rich in our wallets, but we were rich in popularity, and we relished the popularity, especially anytime we were told  by friends, that they read our stories or articles in the Statesman. 

One day, I called my editor, Alhaji Haruna Attah, to check on him. 

In our conversation,  he told me that he was leaving the Statesman. 

His name was a household name those days synonymous with the Statesman.  A fearless and highly intelligent journalist. To leave at that time shouldn't have been the option in my view.

He had a column in the Statesman, which was a must-read those days. It was known as *taking issues*. 

The column added to the readership of the paper at the time, too. 

Honestly, his decision to leave affected my stay at the Statesman. 

He was my best editor and was my number one cheerleader.

A new editor came around and had a different orientation, which was not okay with me. So I left for the Free Press newspaper around 1999.  (I have a full story to tell about my Free Press days, too).

I suspected that Haruna Attah left the Statesman because he felt he was not appreciated enough after risking his life and time for the paper. He even went to jail for a month. 

He also felt there were some interferences in his work at a certain time along the line.

I also suspect that he was not happy about a certain orientation of the paper at a point. 

Above all, he wanted to set up his own newspaper. This was what I deduced from my conversation with him. 

The day he was leaving the Statesman in March 1998, I was with him and helped him pack some of his stuff from his office to his car. 

In view of his meritorious services to the Statesman and dedication, a cocktail was organized to goodbye him  at the Nima residence of Nana Addo, who was the owner of the paper. 

All staff of the paper were invited to the cocktail, and we were kept at the Rex Hotel at Kokomlemle, which was close to the offices of the Statesman.

I was picked in the car of Director Yaw Amfo- Kwakye to the cocktail. 

We had drinks and meat, and every staff member had an opportunity to interact with Nana Addo.

As usual, he encouraged us.  

I can remember Kwesi Pratt, Kwaku Baako, Professor Audrey Gazekpor, Professor Margaret Ivy  Amoakohene, Ben Ephson,  Elizabeth Ohene, and  other top names in politics, and the media who were there. 

To be continued.

Chief Akilu Sayibu

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