By Mackie M. Jalloh
The Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has revealed that a planned $20 million sanitation project intended to improve the city’s waste management system collapsed after the World Bank withdrew its funding. According to the mayor, the withdrawal followed the government’s failure to provide documentation confirming the availability of an unencumbered piece of land required for the construction of a modern sanitary landfill.
Speaking on the issue, Aki-Sawyerr explained that the funding had been secured as part of efforts to tackle Freetown’s long-standing waste management crisis, which continues to pose serious environmental and public health challenges for the rapidly growing capital city. The project was expected to finance the construction of a properly engineered landfill facility that would replace unsafe waste disposal practices and strengthen the city’s overall sanitation infrastructure.
However, she said the project stalled when the required legal documentation confirming that the proposed land was free from disputes, ownership conflicts, or other encumbrances was not provided by the central government. Without that assurance, the World Bank could not proceed with the financing.
According to the mayor, international development partners require clear proof that land designated for large infrastructure projects is legally secured before funds can be disbursed. Such safeguards are intended to prevent future disputes, protect investments, and ensure projects can be implemented without legal interruptions.
The lost funding represents a major setback for waste management efforts in Freetown, a city that generates thousands of tonnes of solid waste each week. Rapid urban growth, population increase, and limited disposal infrastructure have placed enormous pressure on the city’s sanitation system.
For years, the Freetown City Council (FCC) has struggled to manage waste collection and disposal effectively, often relying on temporary dumping sites that lack the environmental safeguards of a properly designed landfill. Environmental experts have long warned that such practices can contaminate water sources, increase the risk of flooding during the rainy season, and expose communities to serious health hazards.
The proposed sanitary landfill project was expected to introduce modern waste management standards, including controlled waste disposal, environmental monitoring, and improved handling of hazardous materials. It was also seen as a critical step toward addressing urban sanitation challenges in the capital.
Observers say the loss of the World Bank funding highlights deeper structural challenges affecting large-scale development projects in Sierra Leone, particularly when coordination between national and local authorities is required. Land ownership issues, documentation delays, and administrative bottlenecks have frequently complicated infrastructure development across the country.
Environmental advocates argue that the situation underscores the urgent need for clearer land governance systems and stronger collaboration between central government institutions and local councils. Without such coordination, they warn that major development opportunities could continue to slip away.
Freetown’s waste management problem is not only an environmental concern but also a major public health issue. Poorly managed waste contributes to blocked drainage systems, which often worsen flooding during heavy rains. Such flooding has historically led to outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and other sanitation-related illnesses.
The city’s growing population now estimated at more than one million residents means that the demand for sustainable waste disposal solutions is increasing every year. Urban planners and environmental specialists have repeatedly stressed that modern landfill infrastructure is essential if Freetown is to keep pace with its expanding waste output.
Despite the setback, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr indicated that efforts to improve waste management in the capital will continue. She emphasized the importance of securing long-term solutions and expressed hope that new opportunities for investment and collaboration could emerge in the future. For many residents and environmental stakeholders, however, the withdrawal of the $20 million support remains a stark reminder of how administrative challenges and unresolved land issues can derail critical development projects aimed at improving urban living conditions
