The Chief Administrator, Abu Bakarr Daramy, emphasised the need for public sensitisation on the importance of the Freetown Municipality celebration.

“The media are strongly part of this celebration and with your publications and pictures people will be aware of the significance of the celebration,” he said.

Secretary for the anniversary committee, Bowenson Philips, highlighted the significance of the celebration, pointing out that it would be beneficial for citizens to be knowledgeable about the history of Freetown.

He stated that the Freetown City had a very rich history the basis upon which it was founded as a province of freedom.

Mayor Sam Franklyn Bode Gibson described Freetown as one of the oldest municipalities on the African continent. He further detailed the historical foundation of Freetown while pointing out the essence of the foundation of the city.

“Freetown is one of the most important cities in Africa for what it stands for and there is one major significance between Government Wharf and the city council building. Slaves departed at the underground where the council building is situated and arrived at the wharf that is why the two places are very much significant to the foundation of Freetown,” the Mayor explained.

The city was founded on March 11, 1792 by Lieutenant John Clarkson and black ex-slaves and free people called Nova Scotian Settlers who were transported to the country in 1792. The city of Freetown was founded as a land for freed African American and West Indians slaves and their descendants are known as the Krio.

Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone. It is the major port city on the Atlantic Ocean and is located in the western Area of the country. Freetown is Sierra Leone’s major urban, economic financial, cultural, educational and political centre. The city proper had a population of 1,050,301 at the 2015 census.