By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown, July 16, 2025 — In a major push toward safeguarding Freetown against seasonal floods, the Freetown City Council (FCC) has mobilized more than 1,000 young people over the past two weeks to participate in extensive flood prevention initiatives. The effort is part of the ongoing “Dorti Mus Go” campaign, launched last month at Calaba Town Market, which promotes sanitation awareness and flood management across the city.
According to FCC officials, the council has been deploying an average of 50 youths daily through community-based mobilization led by councillors. These teams are actively clearing silt and waste from drainage systems in identified high-risk flood zones.
Flood Mitigation Progress
Flood mitigation activities have been successfully completed in a wide range of neighborhoods, including:
– Mayenkineh (Calaba Town), Taylor Street (Kissy Old Road), and Guard Street Market (Fourah Bay Road)
– Car Wash (Tengbeh Town), Congo Cross, and Signal Hill dump sites
– Macauley Street/Circular Road, Wallace Johnson Street, Central Mosque, Boss Station, and Big Market
– Key market areas such as Guard Street–Dove Cut (Eastern Police), Malama Thomas Street, Salad Gron Market, Peace Market (Ferry Junction), Sani Abacha Street, and Priscilla Street
Community-Driven and Sponsor-Supported
This phase of work is funded through FCC’s own-source revenue, with additional support from Irish Aid, the Chinese Embassy, the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA), and other partners. The campaign not only emphasizes direct action but also raises public awareness of recently enacted sanitation byelaws and encourages residents to register with FCC-approved waste management providers.
FCC has expressed deep gratitude to the Climate Action and Disaster Management and Sanitation Committees, as well as to the Disaster Risk Management Unit, for their leadership and boots-on-the-ground implementation.
In a final call to action, FCC continues to urge residents to refrain from dumping waste and wastewater into gutters, reminding the public that proper waste disposal is key to a safer, cleaner Freetown.