The Sierra Leone Broadcasters’ Association (SiLBA) has expressed deep sadness over the destruction of two partner community radio stations, Radio Bankhi-Solofaray and Voice of Youth Radio, both located in the North-West Region, following separate fire incidents on January 9, 2026.
In a statement issued in Freetown, SiLBA described the twin incidents as devastating to the broadcasting landscape, particularly as the country begins a new year with renewed hopes for stronger media development and public service broadcasting.
According to Abubakarr Conteh, Station Manager of Radio Bankhi-Solofaray FM 93.7, the fire that engulfed the station’s premises in Kukuna Town, Bramaia Chiefdom, Kambia District, completely consumed the building. He said the cause of the incident is still unknown and has not yet been confirmed by authorities.
Meanwhile, information available to SiLBA indicates that the fire at Voice of Youth Radio FM 107.1, located in Songo, was likely triggered by a fault in the station’s solar power supply system. SiLBA said it has dispatched a fact-finding mission to the affected station to assess the damage and establish further details surrounding the incident.
Preliminary assessments suggest that both stations suffered major losses, including the destruction of institutional records, office assets and key broadcasting equipment. Items reported destroyed include computers, surge protectors, transmitters and other essential tools required for station operations, with losses estimated to be worth millions of Leones.
Reacting to the incidents, SiLBA President, Stanley Bangura Jr., extended sympathy to the boards, Management, staff and communities served by the two media institutions. He described the situation as painful and called for swift intervention to help the stations recover.
“These unfortunate incidents that occurred on the same day as we begin a New Year of renewed hope on the broadcasting media landscape in Sierra Leone are devastating. We empathize with the Boards, Managements and staff of both media houses and the communities which they have been serving,” the SiLBA President said, stressing that immediate assistance is needed.
SiLBA has therefore appealed to corporate institutions, development partners, media stakeholders and the general public to provide urgent financial support, as well as technical and logistical assistance, towards rebuilding the two radio stations and restoring their broadcast services.
SiLBA is a national umbrella media-interest association and a membership-based organisation incorporated in 2022. The association promotes cooperation and best practices among broadcasters while safeguarding the rights, collective interests and welfare of radio and television institutions across Sierra Leone.
