Post a comment
The Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, visited the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) in The Gambia on December 20, 2024, to tour the KMC Fleet Management Centre.
This facility plays a critical role in the municipality’s waste management system and serves as a potential model for Freetown’s upcoming waste management initiatives, which will be supported by the city’s new Sanitation Bylaws.
Speaking about her visit, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr stated:
“As part of my visit to the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) in The Gambia, I joined Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda to tour the KMC Fleet Management Centre, which plays a critical role in the municipality’s waste management system. Similar to the pending Freetown Waste Management System that will be enabled by the new Sanitation Bylaws.”
She highlighted that the KMC Waste Management Centre operates a fleet of 19 trucks, each assigned to one of the municipality’s 19 wards. Two additional trucks are reserved for contingencies. Each truck is supported by a ticket collector and janitors. Reflecting on Freetown’s challenges, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr noted:
“As we grapple with waste collection in Freetown’s informal settlements, the system utilized in KMC offers a viable model that I believe we can utilize alongside our block system.”
In addition to the Fleet Management Centre, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr visited the Bakoteh Fish Market and Ice Plant, one of the municipality’s 10 major markets. She expressed delight at receiving a warm welcome from Sierra Leonean traders at the market and found the visit inspiring:
“The market visit was also an inspiration as we are committed to building four new markets in Freetown by 2028!”
During her visit, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr also met Senegal’s Prime Minister, H.E. Ousmane Sonko, who was visiting The Gambia. She joined the Gambian Vice President, H.E. Muhammad B. S. Jallow, Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, and other state officials on a tour of the Senegalese school in The Gambia.
Commenting on the experience, she said:”It was impressive to see pupils from 16 countries, mostly African, in their traditional costumes. It was an absolute honor to meet Prime Minister Sonko during his visit.”
