By Prince Abubakarr Williams & Mariama Whitmore
The Freetown City Council (FCC) on 15th May 2025 concluded a two day successful and highly engaging two-day workshop which focused on addressing urban challenges linked to informality and waste management, aligning with the city’s Sanitation Policy and newly enacted Sanitation Byelaws.
The workshop coincided with the launch of the Freetown Operation #DortiMusGo campaign, an ambitious city-wide sanitation drive championed under the visionary leadership of Her Worship, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr. This campaign underscores the Council’s continued commitment to building a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable city.
The two-day event brought together a diverse cross-section of stakeholders, including representatives from FCC and WARDC, technical staff from key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), civil society partners such as FEDURP and CODOSAHPA, waste service providers, international NGOs including GOAL-SL, CRS, and Concern Worldwide, and UrbanShift experts who facilitated the sessions.
Participants engaged in interactive discussions and strategic planning sessions focused on strengthening Freetown’s waste management systems and developing inclusive urban planning approaches that account for the realities of informal settlements. Emphasis was placed on reducing waste pollution, enhancing regulatory compliance, and promoting community-based solutions.
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr’s leadership was central to the workshop’s success. Her continued advocacy for effective urban management and environmental stewardship has been instrumental in driving key reforms, including the introduction of the Sanitation Byelaws, which aim to institutionalise responsible waste management and improve public health outcomes across the city.
The workshop concluded with field visits to the Kingtom Faecal Sludge Plant and the Cockle Bay Community, providing participants with direct insight into Freetown’s complex sanitation landscape. These site visits helped ground discussions in real-world conditions, ensuring that proposed interventions are both practical and impactful.
Key challenges highlighted during the workshop included the urgent need to identify a new dumpsite for the Western Area (Urban and Rural), as the current site approaches capacity, and the ongoing difficulty of achieving meaningful behaviour change at the community level. Participants noted that without a viable alternative disposal site and greater public compliance with sanitation byelaws, sustainable waste management will remain a significant challenge.
This collaborative effort is expected to significantly bolster the city’s urban governance framework and contribute to long-term improvements in waste management, urban resilience, and inclusive development. FCC remains committed to delivering on its mandate to transform Freetown into a more liveable and forward-looking city for all its residents.
