Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Freetown Mayor, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has voiced deep frustration over what she describes as continued government neglect, following the World Bank’s withdrawal of a crucial $20 million funding meant for the relocation and closure of the Bormeh and Kingtom dumpsites.
In a recent interview, the mayor recounted the timeline of the failed project, which was initially approved in 2020. “It was in 2020 that World Bank agreed to fund a $20 million project to build a sanitary landfill so that Bormeh and Kingtom dump sites would shut down completely,” she said. The project was a major step forward in improving waste management in the city.
However, the World Bank required 100 acres of land in Freetown for the project, with Hastings identified as the most suitable location. According to Aki-Sawyerr, the land in question was presumed to be under the control of the Ministry of Defense. As a result, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Lands were tasked with providing proper documentation to secure the land for project implementation.
“Unfortunately, the government failed to produce the land documents,” she lamented. “Several residents came forward, claiming ownership of different portions of the identified land, causing delays and confusion.”
The land ownership dispute dragged on unresolved for over four years, eventually culminating in the World Bank’s decision to withdraw funding on October 20, 2024. “I shed tears that day,” the mayor admitted emotionally. “Freetown City Council is not getting the full support from the government.”
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr emphasized that the loss of this project is a devastating setback for environmental sustainability and public health in the city. The Bormeh and Kingtom dump sites continue to pose severe risks to residents, and the collapse of the relocation plan has left many questioning the government’s commitment to Freetown’s development.
She concluded by calling for renewed transparency and cooperation among national institutions, urging the central government to prioritize the capital city’s urgent environmental needs.
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