The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) has received support from the presidential flagbearer of the All Peoples Congress (APC), Ibrahim Bangura, following a fire outbreak that damaged parts of the broadcaster’s headquarters in Freetown.
The incident, which occurred on April 8, 2026, reportedly destroyed equipment worth millions of Leones, raising concerns about operational disruptions at the state-owned media institution.
During a solidarity visit to the station, Bangura expressed sympathy to the management and staff of SLBC, acknowledging the critical role the media plays in national development, information dissemination, and democratic accountability.
He encouraged the staff to remain resilient despite the setback, assuring them that recovery was possible with collective effort and support from stakeholders.
As part of his intervention, Bangura donated $5,000 and two brand-new laptops to support the station’s immediate needs and aid its recovery process. The gesture was described as a show of commitment to strengthening media institutions, especially during challenging periods.
Top officials of the corporation, including Josephine Kamara and Mohamed Asmieu Bah, expressed appreciation for the donation, describing it as both timely and encouraging.
They noted that the support would go a long way in helping the organisation stabilise operations after the incident, while also boosting staff morale during the recovery phase.
The SLBC management further called on other partners, stakeholders, and well-meaning individuals to extend similar assistance to the broadcaster as it works to rebuild and replace damaged equipment.
The fire incident has drawn attention to the need for improved infrastructure resilience and emergency preparedness within key public institutions, particularly those central to communication and public information.
As recovery efforts begin, stakeholders say sustained support will be crucial in ensuring that SLBC continues to fulfil its mandate of serving the public with credible and timely information.