With Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
232News
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A pleasant happy new month to all lovers of TRACE Joenal, TRACE is back after critically observing situation in Sierra Leone from afar.
TRACE was so excited to return to Freetown after months of break. It is very clear that Freetown is Sierra Leone’s capital and largest city in the country with a population of over one million (1,055) according to the 2015 census. A major port city on the Atlantic Ocean and is located in the Western Area of the country. It is also clear that Freetown is Sierra Leone’s major urban economic, financial, cultural, educational and political centre, as it is the seat of the country’s Government.
In excitement and anticipation, TRACE woke up in the early hours of the morning, dressed up and decided to tour the city starting from the central west to the east end of the city. Trace was quick to spot filth spewed across the streets of Freetown. TRACE was shocked the more when he noticed that the bridges are now being used as a dumping grounds.
TRACE’s expectations before the tour were that Freetown would have been likened to Kigali, Rwanda, Port Louis, Mauritius, Cape Town, South Africa, Tunis, Tunisia, Windhoek, Namibia, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Gaborne, Botswana, Algiers, Algeria, Nairobi, Kenya, Libreville, Gabon, Kumasi, Ghana or even Asmara Eritrea as cities described as the cleanest in Africa but it turned out to be one of the worst, if not the worse and the filthiest of cities.
Cleanliness is always one of the main factors for travelers when it comes to choosing a destination for their next adventure. Africa is the perfect continent when it comes to improvement and development but Freetown is lagging behind while lots of cities in Africa have taken serious steps towards having a more beautiful and cleaner environment for their citizens and visitors.
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr came with transforming Freetown project when she was sworn in as Mayor of Freetown in May 2018. Since she was elected for the second term her transformation drive can be hardly seen across the city.
From what TRACE saw it is that Mayor Aki-Sawyer mainly focuses on collecting dues through city rates among other council taxes as a professional financial person for over 25 years’ experience in strategic planning, risk management and as project management in the public and private sectors. With all the high-profile background, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr can’t defeat Freetown’s dirt.
What is holding Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr back from fulfilling her transformation drive? Only God’s knows! Freetown has bye laws and these laws have been used by her predecessors which made Freetonians breathe fresh air.
Seeing people dumping garbage along the streets and bridges is very embarrassing and one that needs urgent attention.
Sierra Leone in general has been described as a beautiful country through the geographical landscape and beaches, there is more to that beauty just like a woman not only the face makes one beautiful but other aspects such as cleanliness.
From what TRACE understands, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has the highest meetings ever in Council than any other Mayors and with all those innumerable meetings, Freetonians are seeing less or no impact in the city.
It’s time for Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr to step up for us to get result.
More on this in subsequent editions.
