Statement by President of SLAJ on WORLD RADIO DAY 2020

SIERRA LEONE ASSOCIATION OF JOURNALISTS (SLAJ)

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Statement by President of SLAJ on WORLD  RADIO DAY 2020

Freetown: 13|2|2020

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The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) today, Thursday, 13th February, 2020, joins the rest of the world in observing WORLD RADIO DAY 2020.

This day celebrates the role of radio in educating people, providing information, and promoting freedom of expression and democratic dialogue across nations.

In Sierra Leone, radio remains the most pervasive. The bulk of the population, especially in rural Sierra Leone, depend on radio for information. Limited technological infrastructure, lack of electricity, expensive data, etc. are real challenges that make radio easily accessible and the cheapest medium of communication for national development.

Moreover, in this age of growing social media and mis-information, radio has proven to be quite reliable, an avenue for views of ordinary people to be heard and an important platform for democratic dialogue.

On this day, I want to especially throw light on Community Radio Stations and the important role they play in informing and educating remote communities. 

Sadly, quite recently NATCOM closed down a number of radio stations, including community radios, for failure to pay annual regulation or spectrum fees. While SLAJ is in the process of engaging NATCOM on this, we call on regulators to treat community radios as providing a public service, and not treat them as commercial entities. 

Community radios are a valuable development tool and partner and must be regarded as such.

Meanwhile, on behalf of SLAJ, let me take this opportunity to pay tribute to all station managers holding the fort, especially women station managers like:

Asmaa James, 

Hawa Tucker 

Sarah Rogers, 

Tiana Alpha, 

Patricia Ganda, 

Esther Kanneh Kargbo and 

Aminata Finda Massaquoi 

who are blazing the trail.

Finally, let me also recognize the role of the Independent Radio Network (IRN) over the years and welcome in advance the newly formed Sierra Leone Broadcasters Association.

Thank you.

©: Ahmed Sahid Nasralla

NATIONAL PRESIDENT👍