On World Radio Day: Stakeholders Commend Africell’s 10 Years Contribution To Sierra Leone’s Media Development

In honour of World Radio Day, Africell-SL, the leading Mobile Network Operator in Sierra Leone, celebrated 10 years of support to media development in the country. The commemorative event, held on February 13th, 2024, at Africell-SL Headquarters in Freetown, focused on the theme “Radio-A Century Informing, Entertaining, and Educating.”

The ceremony was attended by prominent media practitioners, including the Executive Secretary of the Independent Media Commission (IMC), the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), and other senior media professionals from across the country.

Mr. Abdul Karim Sesay, the Media Relations Manager of Africell, welcomed the partners and emphasized the importance of reflecting on the past and finding transformative ideas to develop the media. He expressed gratitude to journalists for using radio as a platform to give voice to the voiceless.

Mr. Kalil Kallon, the Executive Secretary of IMC, described radio as a vital medium that has helped shape the world. He revealed that there are currently 243 radio stations operating in Sierra Leone, with 39 of them being community radio stations. He highlighted the role of radio in promoting dialogue and social cohesion, calling for increased support for radio stations in the country.

Ahmed Sahid Nasarala, the President of SLAJ, commended Africell for its support of radio stations in Sierra Leone, especially considering the economic challenges faced by the media. He acknowledged the significant role of radio in providing information to the population and called for support from development partners and government institutions to address the challenges faced by radio stations.

Mrs Asmaa James, a media partner of Africell, expressed gratitude for the company’s support and highlighted the importance of their partnership. She appealed to Africell to extend its support to more community radio stations, recognizing the difficulties faced in running a radio station.
The CEO of Universal Radio, Mr. Josiah Paris, echoed the sentiments of gratitude and called on Africell to increase its support to radio stations. He emphasized the importance of their assistance to prevent the drowning of radio stations.
The event also saw the presentation of certificates of appreciation by the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Broadcasters Association to the presidents of SLAJ, IRN, MRCG, and Africell for their immense contributions to media development in Sierra Leone.
Mr. Joe Abass Bangura, the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Africell, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting radio stations. He mentioned their electricity supply to some radio stations and promised to look into the request for the review of payment to partners. He acknowledged the role of journalists in national development, particularly during the Ebola and coronavirus outbreaks.
The celebration of World Radio Day by Africell-SL highlighted their decade-long support for media development in Sierra Leone. The event emphasized the importance of radio in informing, entertaining, and educating the population while calling for continued support to radio stations in the country.