By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
Sierra Leone’s capital, is experiencing unprecedented population growth as hundreds migrate daily from rural areas seeking jobs, education, and better opportunities. While this influx underscores the city’s economic centrality, it exposes a critical challenge rapid urbanization without adequate planning. Without urgent action, Freetown faces severe consequences, including environmental degradation, infrastructure collapse, and deepened inequality.
The warning signs are stark. Informal settlements are proliferating on precarious hillsides and flood-prone zones, exacerbating risks in a city already grappling with 78% food insecurity and 20-30% crop yield losses due to climate-driven floods. Overstretched drainage systems fail to manage heavy rains, contributing to recurrent flooding that displaces communities, as seen in areas like Kroo Bay. Congested roads, worsened by unplanned urban sprawl, hinder economic activity, while housing shortages force families into unsafe, overcrowded conditions, increasing vulnerability to health crises like 38% child malnutrition.
Urban planner Dr. Aminata Sesay emphasized the need for sustainable development Freetown’s growth is a double-edged sword. Without strategic zoning, improved drainage, and affordable housing, we risk entrenching poverty and environmental harm. Community leaders have called for government-led initiatives to enforce building codes, expand infrastructure, and integrate climate-resilient urban planning to mitigate risks like those in Port Loko and Bonthe, where floods devastate livelihoods.
The government’s New Direction agenda, led by President Julius Maada Bio, includes urban development goals, but critics argue that initiatives like Feed Salone have faltered due to poor execution, raising concerns about capacity to address urbanization. Residents and experts urge immediate investment in sustainable infrastructure and participatory planning to ensure Freetown remains a livable, equitable city for future generations.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 3rd September, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
