INDEPENDENT MEDIA COMMISSION

                                                                                                                                    3^rd Floor, Kissy House

                                                                                                                             54 Siaka Stevens Street

                                                                                                                              Freetown

E-mail: info@imc.gov.sl                                                                              076-724-854/076-695-950

www.imc.gov.sl                                                                                              22^nd August, 2023 

                                                          PRESS RELEASE

INDEPENDENT MEDIA COMMISSION DONATES DESKTOP COMPUTER AND TWO TRANSISTOR SOLAR-POWERED RADIO SETS TO RADIO KOLENTEN FM 90.7 IN KAMBIA

The Independent Media Commission on Tuesday, 22^nd August, 2023, donated one desk-top computer and two transistor solar powered radio sets to Radio Kolenten FM 90.7 in the Kambia District, North-West Region. The items were presented to the radio at the Commission’s headquarters 54 Siaka Steven Street, in Freetown.

In his introductory statement during the handing over ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Khalil Kallon noted that the donation was a novelty brought into the Commission by the Chairman Dr. Victor Massaquoi. The idea itself, he said, was borne out of the felt needs of community radio stations discovered during the Commission’s nationwide annual inspection visits, conducted in 2022. He said the donation is one of the several initiatives of the commission to help salvage the key challenges faced by community radio stations across the country. On the selection criteria, Mr. Kallon noted that it was purely on compliance and merit.

Presenting the items to Ibrahim Janneh, the Station Manager, Dr. Victor Massaquoi, the Chairman of the IMC said based on the number of challenges identified during the 2022 annual media inspection, the Commission developed concept notes and approached a number of institutions/organizations that maybe interested in supporting community development initiatives. He said the overall items, comprising two desktop computers and 20 solar-powered transistor radio sets, were secured through support from the Chinese embassy in Sierra Leone. The radio sets, he stated, will be donated to 10 community radio stations across the country, while the two desktop computers are donated to Moyamba District Children’s Awareness Radio (MODCAR) in Moyamba District and Kolenten Radio, Kambia District.

Dr. Victor Massaquoi referenced Section 11 (b) of the IMC Act 2020, which states that one of the key functions of the Commission is to ensure that media institutions achieve the highest level of efficiency in the provision of media services. He therefore disclosed that the Commission intends to set up a transmitter pool for especially community radio stations, so that during breakdown of transmitters the Commission can provide a rapid response mechanism to keep them on air. He said the role of community radio stations in a democratic process is to give voice to the voiceless; but noted that a number of these radio stations presently lack functional transmitters due to technical hitches as a result of poor installations.

Receiving the donated items on behalf of Radio Kolenten 90.7 FM, the Station Manager said the items were coming to the radio as a surprise and at a time of dire need. He said he was pleased to receive the items on behalf of the Board and Staff of the radio station. Mr Janneh promised to take the good news to not only the Board and staff, but to the entire Kambia District and the North-West Region. He assured the Commission of the radio’s continuous compliance with both the IMC Act 2020 and Regulations.

                                                                    Signed:

Khalil Kallon