By Kadijatu Bangura, D.S
The Freetown City Council will begin a citywide house-to-house campaign next week to increase registration for formal waste collection services as part of a push to improve sanitation in the capital.
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE announced the initiative on AYV’s Wake Up Sierra Leone, saying the outreach is designed to boost public participation in proper waste disposal and support a cleaner, healthier Freetown. She said the campaign is a key component of the Council’s broader strategy to strengthen waste management through direct community engagement.
The Mayor also warned that enforcement of sanitation regulations will be intensified. She said property owners who fail to maintain clean frontages could face fines of up to Le 5 million.
“Clean your frontage or pay five million leones. Freetonians, we need to change our attitude in making Freetown a clean city,” she stated.
Addressing wider urban challenges, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr identified the rapid expansion of informal settlements as a major concern. She linked the growth to poor land-use planning and weak enforcement of building rules, and said sustainable development will depend on stricter compliance and effective planning.
The Mayor further weighed in on the national debate on relocating the capital, saying she would back the proposal if it is in the country’s long-term interest. She also expressed concern over the felling of trees at Fourah Bay College, warning that it threatens the institution’s environmental heritage.
The Council said the new campaign forms part of intensified efforts to improve waste services, uphold sanitation standards, and address key environmental and urban development issues in Freetown.
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