You don't factcheck NDC reps - Chinnia 'fights' Randy Abbey over Mahama claims

An attempt by Dr. Randy Abbey, Ghana Football Association Executive Council Member, to fact-check a claim by Amidu Chinnia Issahaku, Member of Parliament for Sissala East Constituency, created some tension in the studios of Metro TV, with the latter accusing Dr. Randy Abbey of consistent bias against New Patriotic Party (NPP) representatives on his show.

Amidu Chinnia, in his response to the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) campaign launch, sought to punch holes in the speech by the flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.

An aspect of Mahama’s speech which Amidu Chinnia had reservations about was the former president's promise to create jobs for the teeming youth of the country.

Amidu Chinnia questioned why John Mahama would make such a promise when he previously claimed not to have the magic wand to create jobs.

This assertion by Amidu Chinnia, which was premised on some media publications in 2016, was contested by Dr. Randy Abbey, who doubted the credibility of the report and thus implored Amidu Chinnia to go beyond the headline and read the quotes attributed to John Mahama, who was president at the time.

Amidu Chinnia was, however, unhappy with the intervention by Dr. Abbey, claiming that it has become a trend on the show.

According to him, while Dr. Abbey is quick to fact-check comments by NPP representatives, he gives NDC representatives a free pass on the show.

Dr. Abbey decided not to contest the allegations made against him by Amidu Chinnia and asked him to prove that John Mahama indeed made the comments being attributed to him.

Below is how the conversation unfolded:

Chinnia: In the past, Former President Mahama told us that he is not a magician to create jobs for the youth of Ghana.

Dr. Abbey: Are you quoting him?

Chinnia: Those may not exactly be his words, but he said something to that effect. That was the context. He said he wasn’t a magician to create jobs for the youth of Ghana. Today, he is talking about jobs.

Dr. Abbey: I have done this about four times, and I’m just hoping that this will be the last time that we would have to do that. That’s why I asked you.

Chinnia: You are very sensitive to matters concerning former President Mahama. There are so many things they (NDC representatives) say here that you don’t check. You are always allowing them to get away.

Dr. Abbey: I really don’t have a problem with what you are saying. You can say it for forty hours, and I wouldn’t have a problem. But I have an issue with you being fact-checked. Why would you have a problem?

Chinnia: I don’t have a problem, but I’m saying that you don’t fact-check NDC representatives on this program. You don’t. I watch your program, and you don’t fact-check the NDC representatives.

Dr. Abbey: I don’t have a problem if that is the observation you’ve made, and you are entitled to it. However, I do not see why you would have a problem being fact-checked.

Chinnia: I do not have a problem, but I’m just saying that you are critical of what NPP representatives say, but you don’t seem to be critical of what NDC representatives say.

Dr. Abbey: I will not spend time engaging you on that. My point is that if I am making a statement and I’m making a statement of fact, I’d even be happy that I’m engaged on it. Because that rather vindicates what I’m saying.

EK