Freetown, 16th July 2025 — The Freetown City Council (FCC), under the leadership of Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has intensified its city-wide flood mitigation drive, working closely with communities to clear silt and garbage from critical drainage channels in flood-prone areas.
According to Mayor Aki-Sawyerr, more than 1,000 young people have been mobilized over the past two weeks to participate in this crucial exercise.
The initiative, aimed at promoting community ownership and sustainability, is seeing an average of 50 youths per day engaged in cleaning waterways and gutters within targeted neighborhoods.
Flood mitigation work has already been completed in several key locations including Mayenkineh in Calaba Town; Taylor Street at Kissy Old Road; Guard Street Market near Fourah Bay Road; Car Wash at Tengbeh Town; Congo Cross and Signal Hill dump sites; Macauley Street and Circular Road; Wallace Johnson Street, including the Central Mosque, Boss Station and Big Market area; FCC-managed markets at Guard Street–Dove Cut near Eastern Police; Malama Thomas Street; Salad Gron Market; Peace Market at Ferry Junction; Sani Abacha Street; and Priscilla Street.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr noted that this phase of the 2025 flood mitigation efforts is being financed through FCC’s own-source revenue alongside support from Irish Aid, the Chinese Embassy, the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA), and other partners.
The initiative is part of the ongoing “Dorti Mus Go” sanitation campaign, which was officially launched at the Calaba Town Market on June 27, 2025.
As the city pushes towards a cleaner and more resilient Freetown, FCC is appealing to residents to desist from dumping waste and wastewater into drainage systems and to subscribe to FCC-approved waste service providers for proper waste disposal.
“Our efforts alone are not enough. We need every resident to play their part,” Mayor Aki-Sawyerr emphasized.
