A year has passed since Voice of Africa Radio (VOAR) won their FM bid to broadcast in East London on 94.3FM but as yet they have not been able to utilise the FM airwaves due mainly to council 'politricks'. The Newham based Pan-African radio station has received the runaround on a number of occasions in respect to the location of the FM antenna, which is vital for the station to be able to start transmitting to the African British community. VOAR Director Space Clottey has expressed dismay at the way Newham Council have attempted to sabotage VOAR's mandate. Space Clottey says "It has been frustrating for the past 2 years, even before we were awarded our FM licence that Newham Council have not been able to get their house in order and support us in achieving our first goal, and that is to be the voice for the African community here in London". Space Clottey is the Founder and Project Manager of the only licenced African Radio station, who currently broadcast on Sky 0192 and www.voiceofafricaradio.com, while awaiting to broadcast on 94.3FM
It was revealed at the launch that various councillors were involved in a rival station bid to Ofcom which ultimately lost out to the VOAR application. The council was accused of deliberately preventing the FM launch of VOAR by use of administrative bureaucracy. It had previously failed in its attempts to coerce VOAR into dropping their African focus by suggesting the station changes its name and adopts a more ‘black’ and ‘urban’ identity.
The station director Space Clottey thanked London mayor Ken Livingston, his ‘race’ adviser Lee Jasper and Rosemary Emodi for hosting the launch. Fola Awofadeju, VOAR General Co-ordinator and PR, Bishop Margaret Lewis-French - VOAR Event support co-odinator and Simba the Station Manager received rapturous applause for their unwavering and unpaid commitment to the station and our community.
One of the events hosts, presenter and community activist Kwaku Bonsu reminded participants to the event of the important need to ‘dream’ and visualise success in order to reach our aspirations. Space called upon the African community to contact Newham council and hold them accountable for their anti-African actions.
For the full chronology of VOAR's FM story you can visit their website www.voiceofafricaradio.com
External Links
Voice of Africa Radio
FM Campaign launched at City Hall
It was revealed at the launch that various councillors were involved in a rival station bid to Ofcom which ultimately lost out to the VOAR application. The council was accused of deliberately preventing the FM launch of VOAR by use of administrative bureaucracy. It had previously failed in its attempts to coerce VOAR into dropping their African focus by suggesting the station changes its name and adopts a more ‘black’ and ‘urban’ identity. The station director Space Clottey thanked London mayor Ken Livingston, his ‘race’ adviser Lee Jasper and Rosemary Emodi for hosting the launch. Fola Awofadeju, VOAR General Co-ordinator and PR, Bishop Margaret Lewis-French - VOAR Event support co-odinator and Simba the Station Manager received rapturous applause for their unwavering and unpaid commitment to the station and our community.
One of the events hosts, presenter and community activist Kwaku Bonsu reminded participants to the event of the important need to ‘dream’ and visualise success in order to reach our aspirations. Space called upon the African community to contact Newham council and hold them accountable for their anti-African actions.
For the full chronology of VOAR's FM story you can visit their website www.voiceofafricaradio.com
External Links
Voice of Africa Radio
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