AYV News, July 1, 2026
The Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, has announced that the Freetown City Council (FCC) will begin a comprehensive door-to-door outreach campaign next week to encourage residents to register for formal waste collection services as part of efforts to improve sanitation across the capital.
Speaking on AYV Wake Up Sierra Leone, the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, said the initiative is intended to increase residents’ participation in proper waste disposal and promote a cleaner, healthier city.
She reiterated the Council’s commitment to enforcing sanitation regulations, warning that property owners who fail to keep the frontages of their homes and business premises clean risk facing substantial penalties.
“Clean your frontage or pay five million leones. Freetonians, we need to change our attitude in making Freetown a clean city,” she stated.
Addressing the city’s growing environmental and urban planning challenges, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr identified the rapid expansion of informal settlements as one of Freetown’s biggest concerns. She attributed the problem largely to the absence of effective land-use planning and weak enforcement of building regulations.
According to her, sustainable urban development can only be achieved through proper planning and strict adherence to land-use policies.
“What would solve the problem of informal settlements in Freetown is when land-use planning is done,” she said.
Commenting on ongoing discussions about relocating Sierra Leone’s capital, the Mayor said she is not opposed to the idea if it serves the country’s long-term development interests.
“I’m not against relocating Sierra Leone’s capital to any other place,” she remarked.
The Mayor also expressed concern over environmental degradation at Fourah Bay College (FBC), alleging that extensive tree felling is taking place on the historic campus.
“Fourah Bay College looks like a logging centre. All the trees are being cut down,” she lamented, calling for greater environmental protection and preservation of the institution’s natural heritage.
The Mayor’s comments come amid renewed efforts by the Freetown City Council to improve waste management, strengthen environmental protection, and address the rapid urbanisation that continues to place pressure on the city’s infrastructure and public services.
