By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
The Secretary to the President, Dr. Emmanuel A.R. Gaima, has engaged key stakeholders in a strategic discussion aimed at eliminating unauthorized street garages within the Central Business District (CBD) of Freetown. The high-level meeting, held on Friday, February 7, 2025, brought together representatives from the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), the Freetown City Council (FCC), and the Ministry of Transport and Aviation.
The engagement sought to address the growing concern over vehicles being parked and repaired on public streets, a practice that has led to increased congestion and environmental degradation in the city. Dr. Gaima noted while the successful removal of commercial motorbike riders from the CBD had improved orderliness, the continued presence of faulty and abandoned vehicles remained a significant challenge.
“Many of Freetown’s streets have been turned into makeshift garages where faulty vehicles are repaired, causing traffic congestion and disorder. Additionally, the spillage of lubricants and other hazardous fluids damages the tarmac, leading to potholes and further deterioration of the city’s roads,” Dr. Gaima stated.
To tackle this issue, he directed the establishment of a dedicated task force to be convened by the Inspector General of Police. He also mandated the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a comprehensive operational plan to guide the enforcement of the initiative.
Dr. Gaima emphasized the need for public engagement and instructed the media officers of the participating institutions to spearhead an awareness campaign. This campaign will educate the public on the benefits of removing street garages from the CBD, ensuring public buy-in for the initiative.
The Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu, commended the initiative, noting that it was a timely intervention, especially as previous efforts to restore order following the removal of commercial motorbike riders had yielded positive results.
In addition, Chief Administrator of the Freetown City Council, Raman Tom Farmar, suggested that the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) be included in the task force. He highlighted that many of the unauthorized garages are situated within SLRA’s right-of-way and that while FCC has by-laws prohibiting vehicle maintenance on public roads, enforcement has remained a challenge.
Stakeholders at the meeting unanimously welcomed the initiative, acknowledging its potential to improve urban mobility, enhance road infrastructure, and create a cleaner and more habitable city for residents and visitors alike.
The engagement concluded with a directive to deploy tow trucks and other necessary resources for the immediate removal of unauthorized vehicles from the CBD, ensuring that order is restored in Freetown’s business district.