Peace and Reconciliation Sierra Leone Project #4093

Further Unleashing Press Freedom in Sierra Leone

by Fondation Hirondelle

Project Report | Jun 28, 2012
Media landscape still weak in Sierra Leone

By Caroline Vuillemin | Chief Operation Officer

CTN, managed by the University of Sierra Leone, remains the only production facility and radio broadcaster in the Freetown area to be independent. It also serves as the best training centre for radio Journalists in Sierra Leone. Radio remains powerful in Sierra Leone, yet the media landscape is fragile and politicized.

As Mrs. James-DeKam from WACC puts it : "Despite the SLBC Act that states it must serve the public interest by reflecting all shades of views and interest, the station is still promoting the government agenda rather than the public interest.” WACC is pushing to establish Radio Shalom in Sierra Leone.

Radio Democracy FM 96.2 and Kiss 104FM both started as platforms for advocacy of community development and political participation but were later re-registered as profit-focused stations. Political parties also started radio stations, such as We Yone Radio and Unity Radio, but these stations contributed to political instability by fueling political strife, disunity and confusion. The government closed down these radio stations with support from the IMC".

It is worth noting that the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) studios now broadcast to the United States of America, Europe some parts of Africa and anywhere, where there is High Speed Internet net-work. All Programs including News, Views, Documentary, Obituary Announcements, Public Notices, advertisements, dialogue entertainments aired at the New England Ville Studios in Freetown, can also be viewed live, here in the United States of America.

CTN lost its capacity to broadcast nationally on FM and short-wave as well as to maintain the streaming and podcast features on its web-site due to lack of funding.

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Mar 28, 2012
The University managing successfully CTN!

By Caroline Vuillemin | Chief Operations Officer

Oct 20, 2011
The University of Sierra Leone holding on CTN!

By Caroline Vuillemin | Chief Operations Officer - Fondation Hirondelle

Logo of Fourah Bay College, University of SL

In March 2011, Fourah Bay College (University of Sierra Leone) gave a grant to CTN that covered two months of salaries to staff and running costs. The University approached then again the United Nations Special Representative who decided to save the situation by giving a bridging grant to CTN under the Peace Building Fund (PBF). On the insistence of the UNDP, an assessment was carried out by Panel Kerr Forster on the capacity of CTN to manage donor funds. The assessment team gave the green light and in June 2011, after several meetings with UNIPSIL (UN Mission) and UNDP, approval was given for support to CTN’s budget - May to July 2011 with the sum of $32,199 and $25,622 respectively from the PBF and $6,577 from the German government. A further budgetary support of $222,423 from the German government has been approved to support CTN’s activities between August 2011 – February 2012. A Committee was set up to manage the funds:

Currently, the Committee meets regularly to plan the activities of CTN and take decisions on funding and other aspects of the project. In August 2011, the former Station Manager of Radio Mount Aureol, Mr. James Lebbie was appointed Training Officer and Coordinator of CTN’s activities with the Community Radio Stations. He is currently part of the CTN management team.

CTN continues to broadcast six hours daily news and current affairs. Under the current funding arrangement, the satellite link has been restored with Babcock of Britain and from feedback from provincial listeners and the CTN’s partner radio stations, CTN is now being heard loud and clear all over the provinces.

As the 2012 elections draw near, emphasis on programs will be geared towards preparations for the elections, voter education including biometric voter registration, the need for free, fair and credible elections and sensitization on avoidance of violence.

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