By Albert David
98.1 Radio TV program featuring Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, Chief Whip of the APC in Parliament, and Moses Mambu, newly elected SLPP Publicity Secretary, was not merely a broadcast, it was a distressing exhibition of media collapse and political misconduct.
Mr. Mambu’s behaviour throughout the program was obstructive, disrespectful, and dangerously manipulative. His narratives were not only misleading, they were crafted to distort, derail, and dominate. What should have been a platform for civic dialogue became a stage for intellectual vandalism, where facts were twisted and decorum discarded.
Even more troubling was the role of the hosts. Whether through naivety, bias, or sheer unprofessionalism, they surrendered their responsibility as moderators. The studio was hijacked, not by reasoned debate, but by Mambu’s aggressive theatrics, leaving Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara no choice but to walk out in dignified protest. That decision, though regrettable, was a principled stand against the erosion of media ethics.
This incident raises urgent concerns:
(a) Suppression of media space: When moderators lose control, dissenting voices are drowned out.
(b) Oppression through manipulation: Mambu’s tactics were not political engagement, they were strategic misinformation.
(c) Collapse of journalistic standards: The hosts failed to uphold neutrality, structure, and respect.
(d) Unethical communication: The program became a breeding ground for deceptive narratives and partisan bullying.
(e) Lack of leadership communication: Mambu’s conduct reflects a troubling disregard for civic responsibility and democratic maturity.
This is not how a Publicity Secretary should behave. Nor is it how a media team should moderate. The public deserves truth, balance, and professionalism, not propaganda masquerading as debate.
If this is the new face of political communication, then Sierra Leone’s democratic discourse is under siege. We must demand better, from our media, from our political representatives, and from ourselves.
Let this serve as a call to action: Restore integrity to our airwaves. Reclaim the dignity of public debate. And reject the culture of sycophancy and suppression that threatens our national conscience.
