By Thaimu T Kamara
The Government of Sierra Leone has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) into a modern, credible and financially sustainable public broadcaster.
The commitment was made on Thursday, 8 October 2026, during the National Conference on Sustainable Funding for the Public Broadcaster, organised by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education in collaboration with SLBC under the theme “Ring-Fencing Funding for the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation.”
Delivering the keynote statement on behalf of Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, stressed the need for predictable and sustainable financing to strengthen SLBC’s public service mandate and improve its capacity to serve citizens nationwide.
Minister Bah described SLBC as a critical part of Sierra Leone’s national information infrastructure, noting that despite longstanding challenges, the institution remains essential to promoting national cohesion, peace, civic education and democratic participation.
He acknowledged the financial, infrastructural and operational constraints facing the broadcaster but commended its Director General, Madam Josephine Kamara, the Board, management and staff for their continued dedication. He also highlighted ongoing improvements to facilities, working conditions, programme quality and studio development through partnerships with development partners and other stakeholders.
The Minister emphasised that SLBC must provide accurate, credible and accessible information, particularly to communities in remote parts of the country. He said the broadcaster’s responsibility extends beyond commercial centres to include promoting local languages, supporting agriculture, reflecting national diversity and strengthening public engagement.
He further stressed that sustainable funding must be accompanied by professionalism, editorial independence, sound management and public accountability to ensure that resources are used transparently and in the public interest.
A key issue addressed at the conference was Sierra Leone’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. Minister Bah described the transition as an important national commitment that could improve broadcasting quality, expand programming opportunities and enable more efficient use of transmission infrastructure.
He disclosed that preliminary studies and technical work had been undertaken, while noting that the most conservative estimate placed the cost of the transition at approximately US$50 million. He therefore called for a comprehensive, fully funded national plan to facilitate the transition and prepare citizens to benefit from digital broadcasting.
The Minister also highlighted the need to address the unfinished SLBC building, describing it as a structure with significant historical importance and unrealised potential.
He called for a comprehensive assessment of the building’s condition, rehabilitation costs and investment opportunities, suggesting that it could be transformed into a modern broadcasting and information hub with studios, production facilities, training spaces and archives. Such a facility, he noted, could also create opportunities for income generation.
On financing, Minister Bah urged stakeholders to explore practical mechanisms for providing reliable public funding, including legislative and revenue options and the possible establishment of a dedicated public broadcasting fund.
He stressed that any proposed financing arrangement must be fair, viable, transparent and cost-effective while safeguarding SLBC’s independence and public service responsibilities. He also called for stronger coordination among institutions responsible for information, broadcasting, telecommunications, spectrum management and related infrastructure.
The Minister maintained that public funding must be matched by clear accountability measures, allowing citizens to understand the resources allocated to SLBC, how they are spent and the services delivered in return.
In his closing remarks, Minister Bah challenged participants to move beyond identifying the broadcaster’s challenges and develop concrete, credible and sustainable solutions. He called for continued collaboration with Parliament, the private sector, communities, development partners and citizens to advance SLBC’s transformation.
He emphasised that rebuilding the national broadcaster should be a collective national responsibility, rather than the burden of one minister or government institution.
Minister Bah reaffirmed his determination to support SLBC’s transformation and, on behalf of the President, officially declared the National Conference on Sustainable Funding for the Public Broadcaster in Sierra Leone open.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 19th October 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
