Africell launches nationwide free radio call-in service to encourage public participation

Africell Sierra Leone has launched a nationwide toll-free radio call-in service aimed at removing financial barriers to public participation in broadcast media while also strengthening the country’s communication, disaster response, and security systems. The initiative was officially launched on Friday, 13 February 2026, at Africell’s headquarters in Wilberforce, Freetown.
Africell subscribers will be able to call into participating radio shows for free with the new service. Africell stated that the move addresses long-standing barriers to listener engagement, particularly for low-income and remote communities whose ability to participate in live discussions has often been limited by the cost of airtime. “Radio access should not be dependent on a caller’s ability to purchase airtime,” Africell Sierra Leone’s Media Relations Manager, Abdul Karim Sesay, said at the launch. He described the free call-in platform as a way to democratise public debate and increase the flow of critical information about governance, security, and public health. Sesay added that Africell already provides connectivity, 24-hour electricity, and financial assistance to media outlets in all 16 districts and will not interfere with editorial content. Africell Chief Executive Officer Shadi Al-Gerjawi stated that the service was initially planned for about 40 stations but is now available to all radio stations in the country. Africell will provide the technical infrastructure, including dedicated ports, to ensure seamless integration with broadcaster programming. The CEO described the policy as prioritising social impact over operational costs, noting that increased public access to radio could improve education, security, and early warning capabilities. Radio managers at the event were pleased with the announcement. Brigitte Dalton-Sesay, General Manager of Radio Fry Fry, described radio as the most reliable and accessible medium for connecting Sierra Leone’s communities. She stated that power remains one of the sector’s highest operational costs and praised Africell’s long-standing support—via infrastructure, tower access, and secure technology services—which now reaches over 110 media outlets nationwide. Dalton-Sesay described the free call-in service as a “major boost” for community engagement and public service broadcasting.
Speakers from national agencies emphasised the service’s capacity for disaster risk reduction and security. John Vandy Rogers, General Manager of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), emphasised radio’s critical role in identifying hazards and mobilising response, and cited the nationwide toll-free hotline 1199, developed in collaboration with Africell, as a tool for reporting threats. Rogers stated that removing cost barriers would improve early warning systems, particularly in hard-to-access areas. Francis Langumba Keili, Chief of Staff at the Office of National Security, stated that improved, cost-free communication from communities would improve people-centred security by allowing for faster reporting and more coordinated responses. Alhaji Manika Kamara, President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, described the initiative as a game-changing innovation that will increase democratic participation and urged broadcasters to create programming that takes advantage of the new platform. At the end of the launch, Africell signed memoranda of understanding with Kalleone Radio and Radio Tonya in Kenema to provide 24-hour electricity support. The company also announced “Africell Super Thursday,” a QR-code promotional campaign designed to increase print media circulation and advertising engagement. According to Africell and government officials, the free call-in service is expected to boost listener participation, strengthen community reporting, and improve the radio’s role in public communication, disaster management, and democratic governance throughout Sierra Leone.