In a heartfelt post on social media, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown shared her deep concern about the devastating state of the Aberdeen Creek.
A morning walk led her to witness a distressing scene of mangrove destruction, a direct consequence of unchecked building construction encroaching into the creek.
The mayor’s message resonates with urgency, as she underscores the alarming rate at which these invaluable mangroves are disappearing. The impact is far-reaching, as the delicate balance of Freetown’s ecosystems is disrupted, leaving the city susceptible to increased flooding risks. Furthermore, the decline in fish population due to the destruction of mangroves threatens both the local fishing industry and the overall biodiversity of the region.
While Mayor Aki-Sawyerr speaks from her position as a concerned resident and dedicated climate change activist, she emphasizes that the responsibility for addressing this critical issue does not fall under the jurisdiction of local councils. Land use planning and building permit issuance are not within their purview.
This wake-up call from Mayor Aki-Sawyerr serves as a rallying cry for environmental protection and responsible land use planning. The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated, and the community’s collective action is imperative to safeguard Freetown’s natural resources for generations to come.
See her post below:
“Went for a walk this morning and was heartbroken by this view of the #AberdeenCreek. The view from the Aberdeen Bridge is equally disturbing. The destruction of our mangroves caused by building construction into the Aberdeen Creek is happening at an alarming rate and must be stopped. The continued destruction of our #mangroves not only increases our city’s risk of #flooding, it also reduces our #fish population because fish breed in the mangroves and it damages #biodiversity #ecosystems. I am writing in my capacity as a concerned resident and a #ClimateChange activist but for the avoidance of doubt and to stay focused on this critical issue it should be noted that land use planning and building permit issuance are #not functions devolved to local councils. #EnvironmentalProtection #BuildingPermits #LandUsePlanning”
