Freetown, CBD – Thursday, February 13, 2025 – The Task Force established to eliminate street garages within Freetown’s Central Business District (CBD) officially commenced operations today, targeting key areas including Campbell Street, Robert Street, and Dundas Street.
This initiative follows a directive issued during an inaugural stakeholders’ meeting on February 7, 2025, convened by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Emmanuel A.R. Gaima, at State House. During the meeting, Dr. Gaima authorized the formation of a task force to eliminate street garages and remove all building materials obstructing roads within the CBD.
In response, the task force, comprising representatives from the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), and the Freetown City Council (FCC), mobilized today to enforce the directive.
Speaking on the operation’s progress, Commissioner of Police Abdul Moijueh, Director of Traffic Management and Road Safety, expressed satisfaction with the support received from stakeholders involved in the operation.
He emphasized that the team is committed to enforcing the State House directive to eliminate street garages, abandoned vehicles, and roadside vehicle repairs within the CBD.
“The CBD is overcrowded with faulty vehicles undergoing repairs on the roadsides. This practice results in the spillage of harmful lubricants, which damage the tarmac and contribute to the development of potholes throughout the municipality of Freetown,” Commissioner Moijueh explained.
He further disclosed that the task force had conducted public awareness campaigns about the operation and would continue these efforts until the CBD is cleared of abandoned vehicles and building materials.
Dunstan Sackey, City Engineer of FCC, expressed his satisfaction with the operation’s progress, noting that FCC was pleased with the public’s cooperation in clearing building materials and abandoned vehicles from the CBD.
The task force utilized a pickup van equipped with a public address (PA) system to raise public awareness during the operation, ensuring the public is informed about the ongoing efforts to decongest the CBD.
The task force remains committed to restoring order and improving road safety within Freetown’s Central Business District.
