Fofanah Accuses Liberty TV Presenters of Bias
Budding politician of the Sierra Leone People's party Ibrahim Tejan Fofanah has accused Liberty Online TV presenters Mabel Kabba and Khadijah Bangura of treating representatives of the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) and opposition All People's Congress (APC) differently during political interviews.
On his social media handle, Fofanah questioned whether the presenters apply the same level of scrutiny to politicians from both parties, pointing to what he perceives as differences in their tone, follow-up questions, interruptions and willingness to challenge guests.
He argued that while President Julius Maada Bio and his administration must be held accountable for their decisions and performance, opposition politicians should face equally rigorous questioning when making claims against the government.
“There should be no political protection for anyone,” he said, insisting that journalists should demand evidence from politicians making controversial allegations, regardless of their political affiliation.
Fofanah also called for equal opportunities for political guests to defend their positions, warning that differences in interviewing standards could leave viewers questioning whether political affiliations influence the presenters' approach.
Describing Mabel Kabba and Khadijah Bangura as respected media personalities, he maintained that their work should remain open to public scrutiny, just like that of the politicians they interview.
“Fairness must be visible, consistent and measurable,” he stated.
Comments