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Chairman of the National Tourist Board (NTB), Tamba Alieu Kokobaye, convened a high-level meeting with over 30 beach establishment owners and key stakeholders along the Freetown coastline.
The gathering focused on enforcing beach sanity, ensuring regulatory compliance, and adopting sustainable cleaning approaches in preparation for the upcoming Budapest-Freetown Rally and the designation of 2026 as the “Year of Culture and Creativity.”
The Chairman Kokobaye issued a strong call to action, encouraging owners and managers to take full responsibility for the cleanliness of their premises. He stressed that hygiene efforts must go beyond the visible storefronts, urging establishments to monitor the sanitation of both the “front and back-end” of their operations. Furthermore, he appealed to the wider community to act as “watchdogs,” playing an active role in maintaining the pristine condition of the beaches.
During the Engagement, both parties agreed that a bi-Monthly Cleaning exercise would be undertaken to ensure consistent maintenance. The engagement also agreed to enforce strict compliance to licensing regulations.
During the discussion, owners agreed to control waste through mandatory installation of waste bins in each establishment. They also agreed to introduce professional waste disposal system wherein a certified management company expected to handle collection and disposal of refuse.
Chairman Kokobaye and the owners also agreed on introducing a uniform system complete with madatory name tags for easy identification for all beach establishment staff. They agreed that this will help promote professional and standardised staffing system for beach cafés and bars.
The National Tourist Board said that this renewed partnership between the NTB and the private sector marks a major step toward presenting Freetown’s beaches as world-class destinations ready to welcome international visitors for the exciting events of 2026.
