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New Harvest Ministries has on Friday, 10 March, 2023 officially launched its new Gospel radio station in Makeni City, Northern Sierra Leone. 

                

 

The ceremony which took place in the compound of the newly established radio located at 10 Barracks Road Mena Hills Makeni brought together distinguished personalities including the proprietor and Global Team Leader of the New Harvest Global Ministries Rev Shodankeh Johnson, representatives from the  Independent Media Commission (IMC), Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Body of Christ in Makeni, Traditional leaders, CSO’s Security personnel, media representatives across the country, community members, church members etc.

Radio New Song is an indigenous christian radio station owned by the New Harvest Global Ministries and has been in operation for over 15 years in Bo and Makeni cities before now extending to Makeni.

Radio New Song Makeni is fully licensed and approved by the IMC to operate as a religious broadcast radio. The radio began its test transmission in January this year and broadcast on frequency modulation (FM) 97.7, broadcasting 24 hours, seven days a week.

 

Chairman of the ceremony Apostle Papani Kargbo warmly welcomed all to the ceremony. He thanked God almighty for the life of the visioneer (Rev Johnson) whom he described as a selfless, godly and a man of great heart who has impacted the lives of many including himself.

 

“I had to travel all the way from America to witness this historic ceremony. I am where I am today because this man here listened to the voice of God.”

He informed that he started as a radio presenter at Radio New Song in Bo and therefore encouraged all never to  despise little beginnings and also admonished staff to practice their profession professionally. He called for diligent service at all times.

 

Making a statement, Regional Manager of the Independent Media Commission- IMC North Karifala Samura underscored, he’s with the firm conviction that the founding fathers of Radio New Song (New Harvest Ministries) have done tremendous job by setting up a religious radio station in that part of the country thereby adding to the very few numbers they have across the board.

 

He noted that the radio is the most effective medium of communication adding that radio is an active medium capable of stirring emotion and creating tremendous interest for church service.

 

“The Independent Media Commission IMC is the constituted body charged with the responsibility to regulate and promote a free and pluralistic media in Sierra Leone and ensure that media institutions achieve the highest level of efficiency in the provision of media services,” he informed.

 

He further maintained that in adherence to the IMC ACT of 2020, media institutions are required to uphold and abide by the IMC media code of practice. He used the opportunity to remind all media practitioners of their critical role as we approach the crucial elections.

 

“As we drive into the electioneering period media practitioners are expected to be professionals in their reporting, they should set the agenda. Inflammatory statements from media houses will be drawn at and defaulters will be penalized by the commission,” he cautioned.

 

In his statement on behalf of SLAJ Northern Region, Ibrahim Jalloh described the ceremony as a history-making event. 

 

“This is a wonderful moment, we are making history together today. Again we are happy today marks the establishment of the eighth radio station in the municipality of Makeni and its immediate environs,” he said.

 

He called for professional practice among colleges as the general elections fast approaches.

 

Peter Conteh on behalf of Civil Society profoundly thanked the New Harvest Ministries for setting up the radio which he says always amplifies their voices in their advocacy and giving of critical analysis on national issues. 

 

Representing the Body of Christ in Makeni, Rev Emmanuel Saso-Decker thanked the proprietor Rev Johnson for setting up the radio which he described as a dream come true.

 

“To our father in the Lord, we want to say this is a dream come true to the body of christ as we’ve been praying, crying and hoping for such a day and we are here to behold it. I want to assure you that we are going to make use of this great facility that is handed over to us today. 

 

“I remember 10 years ago we started a cry of how to get a radio station but our cries couldn’t be heard but today we are holding the grand opening of the first pentecostal radio station that will accommodate every denomination.

 

“It will be one of the major tools that as a body we will be using to address the present errors in the district. With this we believe we can reach out to the unreached communities with the undiluted word of God.

 

“We are not only going to be partners but we are going to be owners of this great institution, he promised. He pledged their unflinching commitment and availability whenever called upon. He informed them their doors are always open as the movement he says they will not  leave in the hands of the New Harvest Ministries all alone but noted, “this is the property of the body of Christ”.

 

In his keynote address, Rev Shodankeh Johnson proprietor and Global Team Leader of the New Harvest Ministries spoke on the subject: “Yes We Can”.

 

He informed all present that he came from a poor background with many reasons to advance for not getting further but noted always believed in his dreams and relied on the plan of God for his life.

 

His life, he said, is a testimony. He encouraged all to closely work towards their dreams.

 

“No matter where you are today, it’s a transit period. It’s not your final destination but a transition point to where God wants to take you.

 

Speaking on the official launch of the radio he said: “It is not about me or the New Harvest Ministries but it’s about God and to Him alone all glory belongs,” he said. He warned against taking the glory of God and therefore ascribed all glory and greatness to God almighty noting he is only responding to the voice of God.

He further stated, “we are not here to compete but to complement the effort of existing radio stations and ministries here”.

 

It is our desire that this radio be a source of blessing to many. As well transform the lives of many with so many testimonies from its listening populace. 

 

Other meanings statements were made by security personnel. Acting station manager of the newly established Radio New Song Makeni Rev Daniel Vandi thanked the leadership of the New Harvest Ministries for believing in him for the position whilst promising to live to the expectation of all. 

 

Cutting of tape and touring of the radio facility climaxed the ceremony.

 

Radio New Song FM 97.7