By Kemo Cham
The regional broadcasting network, Eastern Community Radio, has finally shut down its operation in Tongo, after a protracted disagreement with local authorities over ownership.
The management of the broadcaster said it had to pull out on the orders of the chiefdom authorities.
The development comes after about three months since the station temporarily halted transmission on the orders of the local authorities, amidst negotiation over the fate of the station in the chiefdom.
The chiefdom authorities and the management of the radio had been at loggerhead over the role the local people should play in the running of the station.
Eastern Community Radio is a network of radio stations operating in the eastern region of the country, which comprises the three districts of Kailahun, Kenema and Kono. The broadcaster is currently present in Kenema, its headquarters, and Kono.
Tongo, which is part of Kenema, had a separate transmitter because due to the topography of the community’s location the people couldn’t access the frequency from the main transmitter in the district headquarters town of Kenema.
In a letter signed by 11 section chiefs, a copy of which was obtained by Politico, the chiefdom authorities accused the radio’s management of failing to fulfill its part of the agreement that led to the installation of the transmitter in the community.
The transmitter was installed in 2009. The locals say they agreed that indigenes would be trained in three years to take over management of the facility, a point the Eastern Radio management denies.
The locals say as part of the agreement, they provided the building to house the radio, negotiated for a 24 hour electricity supply and provided volunteers as trainees.
“Now it’s nine years, the radio is in full existence without any benefit to the chiefdom authorities and the management never met its promise,” the letter notes.
The letter adds that the building would be put into use for another development purpose.
The eastern community management said it has relocated the radio equipment to its headquarters while it pushes on with negotiation for an amicable resolution.
Meanwhile, as the people of Tongo exited the Eastern Community Radio network, the people of Kailahun have been seeking to enter it.
Another letter dated 7 January, from the Paramount Chief of Jawie Chiefdom in Daru, PC Musa Ngombukla II, the chiefdom authorities called on the management of the radio to respond to its request for a transmitter.
Kailahun is the only one among the three districts that doesn’t have an Eastern Community Radio transmitter.
In the letter, PC Kallon recalled the part he and other Paramount Chiefs in the rest of Kailahun and the entire eastern region played to have the government waived duties for the radio’s equipment.
The letter also committed the chiefdom to providing free accommodation for the radio and its manager and to facilitate the supply of electricity from a telecoms operator in the district.
Ahmed G. Kallon, General Manager of Eastern Community Radio, said they have had enough with the people of Tongo and that they were now looking at meeting the demand of the people of Jawie Chiefdom.
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