On Sunday, July 21, 2024, Freetown City faced continuous heavy rainfall, prompting Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr to be on the ground alongside Cllr. Unisa Kamara, Chairman of Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, and Chief Administrator Raman Tom Farmar. The team observed the positive impact of the Freetown City Council’s (FCC) flood mitigation activities over the past eight weeks.

Despite the inclement weather, flood mitigation activities persisted at Abacha Street, highlighting the FCC’s dedication to addressing the city’s flooding challenges. Mayor Aki-Sawyerr noted that localized flooding is primarily due to missing, sealed, or broken slabs, as well as silt and gravel blocking the drainage systems.

A significant flooding issue was observed at the Pademba Road/Dundas Street junction, where the Samba Gutter is inadequate for the volume of water now coming from the Hillside By Pass Road. The resultant flooding impacts surrounding streets, including Sanders Street. The Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) is aware of the issue and has informed the FCC of plans to address the Samba Gutter challenge in the near term.

A similar drainage problem was noted at the SLRA offices on Kissy Road. Mayor Aki-Sawyerr expressed hope that these structural issues will be resolved soon. She also appealed to Freetown residents to refrain from disposing of garbage in gutters and waterways, emphasizing the role of the community in preventing flood-related disasters.

“Flood mitigation activities continued at Abacha Street today even in the rain,” Mayor Aki-Sawyerr emphasized. “Localized flooding appears to mainly be the result of missing slabs, sealed slabs, or broken slabs, silt and gravel blocking drainages. Additionally, there is a major flooding challenge at the Pademba Road/Dundas Street junction where the Samba Gutter is inadequate for the volume of water now coming from the Hillside By Pass Road. The resultant flooding is impacting the surrounding streets including Sanders Street. Sierra Leone Roads Authority is fully aware of this issue and has informed us that they plan to address the Samba Gutter challenge in the very near term. A similar drainage issue is evident at the SLRA offices on Kissy Road. We are hopeful that these structural issues will be fixed soon whilst we continue to appeal to Freetonians to stop throwing garbage in gutters and waterways.”

The FCC remains committed to mitigating the impact of floods in Freetown through ongoing and future initiatives, ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents.