VOA Launched at a Private Radio Station in the Gambia
On Saturday, December 13, 2008 Ambassador Barry L. Wells officially launched VOA broadcasting to a popular radio station, Unique FM, with funding from VOA. This was done barley three weeks after the first visit of Dr. Joyce Ngoh, Director of marketing and Program placement for VOA. The station, the first to offer VOA in the Gambia, will now offer Gambians the opportunity to listen to live broadcast of VOA programs every hour on the hour, and other popular shows such as Straight Talk Africa. Secretary of Sate for Communication Information and Information technology, Fatim Badjie -Janneh, also attended the inauguration and described Lamin Manga, the owner , of Unique FM Station as a real pace setter, worthy of emulation by Gambian youth. Ambassador Wells during his remarks said, “that VOA provides an accurate and balanced view that now the people of The Gambia have access to.“
Ambassador Barry L. Wells (fourth from
left) , next to him is SOS Fatim Badjie-
Janneh and Lamin Manga, Proprietor,
Unique FM.
The launching ceremony marketed VOA in the Gambia and invited new listeners. It also highlighted US support for freedom of speech and our support to the media. The ceremony received extensive font page coverage on all the major newspapers and on the national TV station; and stimulated many conversations on the radio.
