By Mackie M. Jalloh
The Sierra Leone Broadcasters Association (SiLBA) has intensified its call for national support following a solidarity visit to the burnt premises of Voice of Youth Radio 107.1 FM in Songo, a community radio station that was completely destroyed by fire on 9 January 2026. The inferno forced the station off air, leaving its staff without livelihoods and silencing a vital source of information, education, and community engagement for the people of Songo and its surrounding communities.
The solidarity visit, which took place on Friday, 16 January 2026, was aimed at empathizing with the station’s management, staff, and the wider Songo community, while also drawing urgent national attention to the need for immediate intervention to restore the radio station. Members of SiLBA described the incident as not only a tragedy for the affected station but a serious blow to community broadcasting and grassroots information sharing in Sierra Leone.
The SiLBA delegation was received by Andrew Koroma, Proprietor of Kiss 104 FM in Bo and Board Chairman of the Independent Radio Network (IRN), who spoke on behalf of Voice of Youth Radio and the Songo community. He expressed profound appreciation for the visit, describing it as timely and deeply encouraging in the face of uncertainty and loss.
“This fire has left us devastated, but today’s visit has lifted our spirits,” Koroma said. “Your presence here sends a strong message that Voice of Youth Radio is not isolated. It shows that the broadcasting family in Sierra Leone stands together in times of crisis.”
Providing a detailed account of the incident, Acting Station Manager Henry Yusuf Mansaray explained that the fire was the culmination of electrical challenges that began in December 2025 when the station’s inverter system developed faults. Despite efforts to manage the situation, the malfunction worsened, ultimately triggering the fire that razed the entire station infrastructure.
“This disaster has affected us emotionally, professionally, and economically,” Mansaray said. “As a family man, this station is my livelihood. Right now, there are no clear options, and the hardship is overwhelming.” He added that beyond its role as a workplace, Voice of Youth Radio serves as a lifeline for the Songo community, providing critical information, public education, and a platform for youth and marginalized voices.
Since the incident, Mansaray noted, community members have continued to express solidarity through visits, prayers, and words of encouragement, underscoring the station’s importance to local development and social cohesion. He appealed for continued hope and resilience, calling on the station’s proprietors and partners to remain steadfast as efforts are made to rebuild.
Speaking during the visit, SiLBA President Stanley Bangura Jr., who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Hope FM in Makeni, said the association currently has 43 registered member stations nationwide. He clarified that while Voice of Youth Radio is not yet formally registered with SiLBA, the association considers it part of the broader broadcasting family it represents.
“SiLBA exists for moments like this,” Bangura said. “Whether a station is a member or not, tragedy demands unity. When one station suffers, the entire broadcasting sector feels the impact.”
He described the fire incident as a major setback not only for the station but for the Songo community, which relies heavily on community radio for development-oriented programming, civic education, and emergency information. The SiLBA President disclosed that the association has already issued a public appeal calling on the Government of Sierra Leone—particularly the Ministry of Information and Civic Education—as well as development partners, non-governmental organizations, corporate institutions, and well-meaning individuals to support the station’s restoration.
“We may not be financially wealthy as an association, but we are rich in voice,” Bangura said. “Our responsibility is to amplify this situation and ensure it receives the attention it deserves. Every contribution, no matter how small, can help bring this station back on air.”
He further stressed the need for broadcasters to prioritize safety, particularly in relation to electrical systems and fire prevention, noting that many community stations operate with limited resources and outdated equipment, making them vulnerable to such disasters.
Although SiLBA is not a philanthropic organization, the association presented a modest token of support to Voice of Youth Radio as a symbolic gesture of solidarity and commitment. Bangura also paid tribute to Andrew Koroma for his long-standing contributions to community broadcasting and journalist development across the country, describing him as a pillar within the media landscape.
In his closing remarks, the Headman of Songo, Alhaji Foday Koroma, expressed heartfelt gratitude to SiLBA and all individuals and institutions that have shown concern since the incident. He assured the delegation that the community would rally behind the station and support all efforts aimed at restoring its operations.
“This radio station is our voice,” the Headman said. “We will stand with it and support every initiative that will help it return to the airwaves as soon as possible.”
The SiLBA delegation included the Vice President North, Mr. Hassan, the National Public Relations Officer, Abdulai Koroma, and other media practitioners. The visit has renewed national calls for urgent assistance to ensure that Voice of Youth Radio 107.1 FM rises again to continue serving as a vital platform for information, education, and community development in Songo.
