By Mackie M. Jalloh
The Sierra Leone Broadcasters Association (SiLBA) has paid a solidarity visit to Voice of Youth Radio 107.1 FM in Songo following the devastating fire incident that razed the entire station on 9 January 2026, leaving it completely off air and plunging both staff and the wider community into uncertainty.
The visit took place on Friday, 16 January 2026, and was aimed at empathizing with the station’s management, staff, and the Songo community, while also drawing national attention to the urgent need for support to restore the community radio station.
The SiLBA delegation was warmly welcomed by Andrew Koroma, Proprietor of Kiss 104 FM Bo and Board Chairman of the Independent Radio Network (IRN), who spoke on behalf of the affected station and community. Koroma expressed deep appreciation for the visit, describing it as a powerful show of solidarity at a very difficult moment.
“We are very happy and honoured to welcome the President of SiLBA and his team today,” Koroma said. “This is a painful time for the station and the community, and your presence here means a lot to us. It shows that we are not alone.”
Providing details of the incident, Acting Station Manager Henry Yusuf Mansaray explained that challenges at the station had begun as far back as December 2025 when the station’s inverter developed faults. According to him, despite efforts to manage the situation, the problem escalated and eventually led to the fire outbreak on 9 January, which gutted the station.
“This incident has affected us deeply,” Mansaray said. “As a family man and as someone whose livelihood depends on this station, it has been very difficult for me. Right now, there are no clear options, and the hardship is real.”
He noted that Voice of Youth Radio plays a critical role in the Songo community, providing information, education, and a platform for local voices. Since the fire incident, community members have continued to show concern, sympathy, and emotional support to the station’s staff.
Mansaray used the occasion to call on the station’s owner and management to remain strong and hopeful. “I pray that God will open ways for this station to come back to life. We thank SiLBA for standing in solidarity with us as a family and for their commitment to continue supporting us until we resume operations,” he added.
The President of SiLBA Stanley Bangura Jr, CEO Hope FM Makeni, said the association currently comprises 43 members across the country. He clarified that while Voice of Youth Radio has not yet registered with them, the station remains part of the broader broadcasting family that SiLBA represents.
“One of the key reasons SiLBA exists is for moments like this,” he said. “Whether a station is a member or not, when tragedy strikes, there must be a collective voice to say sorry, to empathize, and to stand together.”
He described the fire as not just a loss to the station, but a major blow to the Songo community, which relies heavily on the radio for information and development-oriented programming. He disclosed that SiLBA has already issued a press release appealing for support from the government, particularly through the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, as well as from NGOs, development partners, corporate institutions, and well-meaning individuals.
“As an association, we may not be rich in financially, but we are rich in voice,” the SiLBA President said. “That is why we are here—to amplify this situation and call on everyone to contribute, no matter how small, towards restoring this station on air.”
He also praised Andrew Koroma for his longstanding contributions to broadcasting in Sierra Leone, describing him as an inspiration and a strong advocate for community radio and journalists nationwide. The SiLBA President further emphasized the urgent need for broadcasters to be equipped with proper tools and safety equipment to prevent or quickly address emergencies such as electrical faults and fire outbreaks.
Although SiLBA is not a philanthropic association, the association presented a small token of support to the station as a demonstration of commitment and solidarity.
In his closing remarks, the Headman of Songo, Alhaji Foday Koroma, thanked the SiLBA team for setting aside their busy schedules to visit the community. He expressed gratitude to all those who have shown kindness, prayers, and encouragement since the incident and assured that the community would do everything possible to support the station’s restoration.
“We promise to stand with the radio station and support any effort that will help it resume broadcasting sooner than later,” he said. The SiLBA delegation included the Vice President North, Mr Hassan, National Public Relations Officer Abdulai Koroma, and other journalists. The visit has renewed calls for urgent assistance to ensure that Voice of Youth Radio 107.1 FM rises again as a vital voice for the Songo community.
