SiLBA Visits Songo’s Burnt Voice of Youth Radio and Increases Nationwide Support for Rebuilding

Following a devastating fire that destroyed Voice of Youth Radio 107.1 FM in Songo on January 9 and rendered it completely inoperable, the Sierra Leone Broadcasters Association (SiLBA) visited the station in solidarity on Friday, January 16, 2026. In order to assess immediate needs, comfort staff and the larger Songo community, and spread a nationwide call for help to restore the community’s essential radio service, the delegation travelled to Songo.

Andrew Koroma, proprietor of Kiss 104 FM in Bo and Board Chairman of the Independent Radio Network (IRN), welcomed the SiLBA team and spoke on behalf of Voice of Youth Radio and the affected community. Koroma described the visit as a meaningful expression of solidarity. “We are delighted and honoured to welcome the President of SiLBA and his team today,” he stated. “This is a difficult time for the station and the community, and your presence means a lot to us. “It demonstrates that we are not alone.

Henry Yusuf Mansaray, the acting station manager, gave a thorough explanation of the crisis’s development. Mansaray claims that the station’s inverter started to malfunction in December 2025. Notwithstanding efforts to control the situation, the electrical issue worsened and led to the facility’s destruction by fire on January 9. The human cost was high, according to Mansaray: “This incident has affected us deeply.” It has been really challenging for me as a family man whose livelihood is dependent on this station. There are currently no obvious solutions, and the suffering is genuine.

Voice of Youth Radio 107.1 FM has long been a pillar of local communication in Songo, broadcasting news, educational content, and development-oriented programming while also providing a platform for local voices. Residents have lost a vital source of information and civic engagement now that the station is no longer on air. Since the fire, community members have rallied around the staff, offering condolences, prayers, and emotional support. Mansaray used the SiLBA visit to encourage the station’s owners and management to remain optimistic: “I pray that God will open doors for this station to come back to life. We appreciate SiLBA’s solidarity with us as a family and their commitment to continue supporting us until we resume operations.

SiLBA President Stanley Bangura Jr., who also serves as CEO of Hope FM Makeni, stated that the association represents 43 broadcasting members throughout Sierra Leone. He emphasised that SiLBA’s mandate extends beyond its formal membership: even though Voice of Youth Radio is not yet registered with the association, it is still a part of the larger broadcasting community. “One of the primary reasons SiLBA exists is for situations like this,” Bangura stated. “Whether a station is a member or not, when tragedy strikes, there must be a collective voice to express regret, empathy, and solidarity.”

Bangura called for immediate help, describing the fire as a significant setback for Songo’s access to information. He revealed that SiLBA has already released a press release urging the government, especially the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, as well as corporate institutions, non-governmental organisations, development partners, and well-intentioned individuals to help rebuild the station. Bangura urged everyone to contribute, no matter how small, to restore broadcasting services, saying, “As an association, we may not be rich financially, but we are rich in voice.”

SiLBA emphasised the need to enhance broadcaster safety and emergency preparedness nationwide in addition to making fundraising appeals. Bangura emphasised the significance of providing stations with the right tools, safety gear, and training in order to prevent or quickly address electrical problems and fire outbreaks that have the potential to destroy livelihoods and infrastructure.

Despite the fact that SiLBA is not a charitable organisation, as a show of solidarity and dedication, the association gave Voice of Youth Radio a small token of support during the visit. Vice President North, Mr Hassan, National Public Relations Officer Abdulai Koroma, and other journalists were part of the delegation.

In his closing remarks, Songo Headman Alhaji Foday Koroma thanked the SiLBA team for their visit and promised to continue supporting restoration efforts. “We promise to stand by the radio station and support any effort that will allow it to resume broadcasting sooner rather than later,” he said.
In order to guarantee that Voice of Youth Radio 107.1 FM can once again rise and carry on being an essential voice for the people of Songo, the SiLBA visit has rekindled calls for immediate, coordinated assistance.