Former Reality TV Star Tejan Fofanah Questions Mabel, Khadijah’s Interview Approach
Aminata Koroma Former reality TV star and politician Ibrahim Tejan Fofanah has called on Liberty Online TV presenters Mabel Kabba and Khadijah Bangura to reflect on their approach to political interviews, particularly when engaging representatives of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Government.
In a statement published on his Facebook page, Fofanah, who identified himself as a former regular viewer of Liberty Online TV, raised concerns over what he described as a perceived difference in the tone, approach and level of scrutiny applied when interviewing SLPP representatives compared to certain politicians from the opposition All People’s Congress (APC).
He stressed that journalism demands fairness, professionalism, consistency and impartiality, noting that journalists have a responsibility to question everyone in public office and hold all political parties accountable, regardless of their political affiliations.
According to Fofanah, APC representatives appearing on the programme should face the same level of scrutiny as their SLPP counterparts, including being challenged on their claims, asked to provide evidence and questioned about their political records and contradictions.
He also stressed that SLPP representatives should equally face tough questions on government decisions, policies, failures and achievements.
“There should be no political protection for anyone,” he stated, adding that allegations made by representatives of either political party should be subjected to evidence-based questioning and scrutiny.
He clarified that his concerns were not about giving the SLPP Government special treatment, stressing that President Julius Maada Bio and his administration must remain accountable to the people of Sierra Leone.
However, he maintained that accountability should never be selective, urging the presenters to apply consistent standards when interviewing representatives of both the ruling party and the opposition.
He further noted that viewers pay attention not only to the questions asked during interviews but also to the tone, follow-up questions, interruptions, willingness to challenge guests and the opportunities provided to different political voices.
Fofanah said Liberty Online TV has a responsibility to serve the public interest rather than create the impression of favouring one political side over another.
He outlined five key standards he would like to see maintained by the presenters: equal scrutiny for APC and SLPP representatives, the same tough questions regardless of political affiliation, evidence-based challenges to political allegations, equal opportunities for guests to defend their positions, and consistent attention to the records of both the ruling party and the opposition.
While acknowledging Mabel Kabba and Khadijah Bangura as respected media personalities, he maintained that their work deserves scrutiny just as much as that of the politicians they interview.
He concluded with a pointed question directed at the presenters: “So, you want to scrutinise others, but you don’t want to be scrutinised yourself?”
He added that journalists should never leave viewers questioning whether political affiliation influences the direction of an interview.