The Sierra Leone Broadcasters Association (SILBA) has expressed profound regret over separate fire incidents that razed two community radio stations, Radio Bankhi-Solofaray FM 93.7 and Voice of Youth FM 107.1, on January 9, 2026.
Radio Bankhi-Solofaray FM, located in Kukuna Town, Bramala Chiefdom, Kambia District, was completely destroyed after a fire engulfed the station’s premises.
The Station Manager, Abubakar Conteh, confirmed that the cause of the blaze has not yet been established and is currently under investigation.
In a similar incident, Voice of Youth FM in Songo, North-West Region, also suffered extensive damage. Initial information points to a malfunction in the station’s solar power system as the likely cause of the fire.
SILBA disclosed that it has deployed a team to both locations to conduct on-the-ground assessments.
Preliminary reports reveal that the fires destroyed critical broadcasting equipment and office property, including computers, transmitters, surge protectors, and important institutional documents, with losses estimated at several millions of Leones.
Reacting to the incidents, SILBA President Stanley Bangura Jr. described the developments as a major setback to community broadcasting, especially at the start of a new year.
He said the Association stands in solidarity with the affected station managements, staff, and the communities that rely on their services.
SILBA has called on corporate bodies, development partners, media stakeholders, and well-meaning citizens to provide urgent financial, technical, and logistical assistance to help rebuild the stations and resume broadcasting operations.
