Freetown, July 24, 2024 – Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has announced a multi-agency initiative to tackle the city’s recent flooding issues.
In a statement on social media, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr detailed a highly productive meeting with key officials, including the Minister of Environment, Minister of Local Government, Deputy Minister of Lands, NS Cord ONS, DG NDMA, JFC RSLAF, DG SLRA, and Chairman WARD C.
During the meeting, stakeholders shared insights on the root causes of the flooding and the measures their respective institutions are implementing to address it.
Key topics of discussion included the absence of effective land use planning, issues with building permit issuance, the accumulation of silt on roads and gutters due to deforestation, the inadequacy of current stormwater drainage systems, and sanitation problems exacerbated by limited road access.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr emphasized the importance of a coordinated response, presenting a slide that highlighted Freetown’s environmental challenges and showcasing photos of the Freetown City Council’s (FCC) ongoing efforts to clear silt from Mellon Street.
The collaborative team has scheduled joint institutional assessments in the coming days and plans to hold regular meetings in anticipation of further heavy rainfall, aiming to develop comprehensive solutions to mitigate the impact of future flooding.
