NPAA Demolishes Structures at Aberdeen Creek in Major Protected Area Crackdown

The National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) has continued its demolition exercise at Aberdeen Creek, Last Banking, as part of ongoing efforts to prevent encroachment and the construction of houses within the environmentally sensitive area.

The exercise forms part of the NPAA’s broader mandate to protect Sierra Leone’s protected areas and preserve ecosystems that are vital to the environment and surrounding communities.

Aberdeen Creek is part of the Sierra Leone River Estuary, an internationally recognised Ramsar site known for its important wetland and coastal ecosystem. The area serves as a critical environmental resource and supports communities whose livelihoods are linked to the surrounding coastal environment.

The demolition exercise was led by NPAA Executive Director Sheikh Ahmed Tunis and Deputy Executive Director Dwight Z. K. Sheriff, with support from personnel of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF).

According to the NPAA, the intervention is intended to address structures and activities considered to be encroaching on the protected area, while reinforcing government’s efforts to safeguard environmentally sensitive locations across the country.

Speaking to the media during the exercise, community stakeholder Abubakarr Turay said residents were willing to support the NPAA’s efforts to protect Aberdeen Creek.

Turay, however, called on the government and relevant authorities to clearly identify and demarcate the boundaries of the protected area to prevent confusion, misunderstandings and potential disputes within the community.

He said the community was prepared to cooperate with the authorities once the correct boundaries of the protected area were clearly established and communicated to residents.

The continued NPAA intervention at Aberdeen Creek highlights the growing focus on protecting Sierra Leone’s wetlands, water catchment areas and other environmentally sensitive sites from unplanned development and encroachment.

Effective community engagement, clear demarcation of protected areas and continued collaboration between residents and authorities will be crucial to ensuring the long-term protection of Aberdeen Creek and the wider Sierra Leone River Estuary.