SANNIQUELLIE, Feb 22 (LINA) - Citizens of Sanniquellie-Mah District and its environs have contributed L$71,000 towards the construction of a modern structure to house their community radio.

The community support followed the donation of a 300-watt transmitter and other radio equipment to the community radio station, by the International Research Exchange Board (IREX) to improve its broadcast network.

During the week, the board of advisors and the management team of the institution held a dedicatory program, during which they turned over the radio equipment to the community dwellers.

During the dedicatory ceremony, the Director of the Board of Advisors, James Barkar, pleaded with the community members for support to construct a studio that would house the radio equipment.

He said the project would cost US$20,000 and that its implementation is expected to begin late this year.

It was in response to the board chairman’s appeal that the community raised the L$71,000, through a birth month rally organized by the community women.

In remarks, the Manager of Radio Sehnwai, Lawrence Tokpah, thanked community members for the money.

He said the media institution came into existence in September 2005, when Mercy Corps donated a 35-watt transmitter to the community of Sanniquellie.

He said the transmitter was dramatically reduced to 15 watts after six years of operation; a situation he said that drastically reduced its network coverage.

Tokpah said this situation changed when IREX donated the 300 watts transmitter in September 2013 that covers parts of Liberia, Ivory Coast and Guinea.

The dedicatory ceremony was attended by Representative Richard Matenokay Tingban of District-#9, commissioners, chiefs, representatives from Guinea, marketers, students, youths, and other media institutions.
LINA WGP/TSS/PTK