AYV News, April 10, 2026
A leading presidential aspirant of the All People’s Congress, Ibrahim Bangura, has paid a solidarity visit to the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation following a devastating fire outbreak at the institution’s headquarters in Freetown.
The incident, which occurred on April 8, 2026, affected the top floor of the broadcasting house, including the office of the Deputy Director General, Mohamed Asmieu Bah. The fire destroyed valuable equipment and property worth millions of leones, including computers, television monitoring screens, mobile phones, office furniture, cash, and critical documents.
During the visit, Dr. Bangura expressed deep concern over the extent of the damage, describing the incident as a national loss given the important role of the media in society. He called on the management and staff to remain hopeful and prayerful, emphasizing that challenges can be overcome with resilience and collective effort.
“This is sad, and I feel the pain as a Sierra Leonean. The media plays a critical role in shaping society,” he stated, adding that his gesture was motivated by the need to show empathy and support to a key national institution, irrespective of political affiliations.
As part of his support, Dr. Bangura donated $5,000 (Five Thousand United States Dollars) and two laptop computers to assist the corporation in its recovery efforts.
Receiving the donation, Director General Josephine Kamara expressed gratitude for the timely intervention, noting that the gesture demonstrates the value placed on SLBC’s role as a public broadcaster. She reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to remaining “the true voice of the people” in delivering information and addressing national issues.
Also speaking, Deputy Director General Mohamed Asmieu Bah thanked Dr. Bangura for the support, describing it as a morale boost for staff affected by the incident. He expressed hope that such an occurrence would not be repeated and called on other stakeholders to assist in rebuilding efforts.
The fire has raised concerns about infrastructure safety and operational continuity within the country’s media sector. However, Dr. Bangura’s intervention is seen as a step toward supporting the recovery of SLBC as it works to restore normal operations.
