Dr. Benjamin Kofi Kujabi
Africa-Press – Gambia. Panelists on our talk shows must exercise caution to safeguard our democracy and freedom of speech. Media houses—such as EYE Africa TV Online (Sunu Reew), KERR FATOU (The Grand Bantaba), and The Fatu Network (Giss Giss)—that create these platforms should be held accountable for the statements made by their panelists, whom they invite or employ to challenge guests effectively.
Many of these panelists require training in communication and media ethics. Not every Tom, Dick, and Harry belongs on a talk-show panel. I frequently see panelists with zero knowledge of their invited guest’s background or the topic under discussion, yet they still muster the audacity to voice opinions that make them look foolish and undermine the show’s credibility.
In my view, most panelists are simply eager to appear on camera, which is why they show up—but they add no substantial contribution. Imagine inviting the Minister of Finance to discuss the budget and the economy alongside such panelists. What insightful questions could they possibly ask? What do they truly understand about budgets, their impact on the economy, or the livelihoods of ordinary people? At best, their question on the economy might be: “Lu tax dunda bi seer?” (Why is the cost of living so expensive?) A trained panelist might ask the Finance Minister: “Your budget raises fuel taxes by 18%. How will this affect transport costs for farmers in the provinces, and what mitigation measures are in place?” Next, picture inviting the Minister of Justice to address human rights when the panelists don’t even recognize that access to clean water is a basic human right.
These panelists must conduct thorough research on the discussion topic and align it with current realities and public perceptions. Their contributions should be inspiring or educative—not divisive, inciting violence, or born of malice to discredit someone’s character. Media houses face tight deadlines and limited talent pools, but that’s no excuse for putting unprepared voices on air. While not every panelist needs a degree, basic preparation and respect for facts must be non-negotiable because lack of preparation poisons political discourse.
One might argue that an opinion is “a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge,” but in public discourse watched by people from all walks of life, opinions must be measured, ethically guided, and grounded in facts from a professional standpoint. Take for instance when voicing opinions about the president or holding him accountable, panelists should treat him with the utmost respect and decorum in any public forum or platform. Ridiculing him—calling him “incompetent” or worse without evidence—is neither free speech nor true accountability. It’s simply disrespectful!
Moving forward, to protect our democracy and freedom of speech, I urge media houses to vet and re-evaluate their panelists or recruit new ones who are knowledgeable about the topics at hand. This will ensure discussions are truly educative and drive meaningful social impact.
I remain in the service of the Nation, for the Gambia ever true.
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