Public Transport Transformation in the Western Rural and Western Urban Area
Public Transport Transformation in the Western Rural and Western Urban Area. Listen to these audio to understand the future of public transport route planning.
Courtesy: Victor Ako Mengot; Transportation & Institutional Development Consultant
FREETOWN: The future of public transport route planning
Courtesy: Victor Ako Mengot; Transportation & Institutional Development Consultant
Public Transport Transformation in the Western Rural and Western Urban Area.
Listen to these audios’ in the Local lingua to understand the future of public transport route planning.
Route Network v3
Route Network v3 — PDF file Download
ABOUT: Victor MENGOT. is a transport development and logistics management specialist with over 25 years of international experience in the transport sector, holder of an MSc. and several diplomas in urban planning and transport engineering, and a member of transport-related professional bodies. He assessed UK legislation and policy on transport issues, underlining strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations in several studies and reports. He dealt extensively with transport facilitation, road safety issues, and highway network development in Kenya. As a Consultant in the Trans-African Highway Project, connecting several Eastern African countries, he contributed to the development of common international standards and policies. 
Freetown: The Cleansing of Society’ Wickedness and Moral Evil
The skies have unleashed a deluge upon Freetown, with a relentless downpour almost daily since the beginning of July. “I make light and create darkness. I give blessings and create disasters. I, the LORD, do all these things” ~ Isaiah 45:7 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW). It is unclear whether this is a result of climate change, but ‘Freetonians,’ as the city mayor, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, often refers to the city's residents, has likely contributed to its own demise through environmental mismanagement, urban planning, housing, and a political system that has not effectively addressed the issue since the 80s that we so deserve this wrath.
By Theo Edwards for YAME
July 2024: The perimeter fence of the Siaka Steven’s National Stadium is currently under rehabilitation by the Chinese GCCIC Construction Company. However, it has collapsed, resulting in one fatality. This incident occurred in the Grey Bush area, opposite the cemetery.
By Theo Edwards for YAMECommunity after community is nothing but calamity and ruin (Old Testament biblical reference)
The skies have unleashed a deluge upon Freetown, with a relentless downpour almost daily since the beginning of July.
“I make light and create darkness. I give blessings and create disasters. I, the LORD, do all these things” ~ Isaiah 45:7 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW).
It is unclear whether this is a result of climate change, but ‘Freetonians,’ as the city mayor, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, often refers to the city's residents, has likely contributed to its own demise through environmental mismanagement, urban planning, housing, and a political system that has not effectively addressed the issue since the 80s that we so deserve this wrath.
READ: Sierra Leone Unapproved Construction: Juba in Peril
I give blessings and create disasters ~ Isaiah 45:7
The impact of human activities on flooding in Freetown cannot be overstated. Deforestation has led to reduced vegetation cover, increasing soil erosion and surface runoff. Urbanization has exacerbated the issue by creating impervious surfaces that prevent water infiltration and encroaching on floodplains, resulting in heightened flood risk. Inadequate drainage systems, due to lack of maintenance and capacity, are overwhelmed by increased water volume. Furthermore, the absence of flood protection measures, such as levees, retention ponds, and early warning systems, leaves the city extremely vulnerable to flooding.
Freetown's Deluge: A Perfect Storm of Climate Change and Human Error
Climate change, a global phenomenon, has manifested in Freetown as increasingly erratic and intense weather patterns. Rising global temperatures are altering precipitation cycles, leading to more frequent and heavier downpours. The city's vulnerability is exacerbated by a host of human-made issues.
Environmental mismanagement is a critical factor. Deforestation, rampant and unchecked, has stripped the land of its natural defenses against erosion. The once-protective forests that absorbed rainwater are now absent, leaving the city exposed to the full force of the downpours. Poor waste management practices further compound the problem, as clogged drains and waterways exacerbate flooding.
Urban planning, or rather the lack thereof, has also contributed to the crisis. Rapid urbanization without corresponding infrastructure development has led to haphazard construction and encroachment on floodplains. Buildings erected in vulnerable areas are now at the mercy of the elements. The city's inability to cope with the increased volume of water is a direct result of this shortsighted planning.
Political neglect cannot be overlooked. For decades, the issue of urban flooding has been a recurring problem, yet successive governments have failed to implement comprehensive and sustainable solutions. Corruption, inefficiency, and a lack of political will have hindered progress. The result is a city ill-prepared to face the challenges posed by climate change.
The impact of rural-to-urban migration on the environment, housing, transport, sanitation, and health is worsened by the lack of planning and targeted investments. Freetown urgently needs to address the environmental challenges we have contributed to and the moral issues we continue to overlook, despite being fully aware of the risks
It's important to note that while climate change is a global issue, its impacts are felt most acutely by vulnerable populations in cities like Freetown. The convergence of climate change and human-induced factors has created a perfect storm, leaving residents to suffer the consequences. To address this crisis effectively, a multi-faceted approach is required, encompassing climate adaptation measures, improved urban planning, investment in infrastructure, and strong governance. The future of Freetown depends on it.
Nightmare Before Christmas
The gruesome incident happened on the evening of December 21. At the time we went to press, there were 16 people in the hospital, 1 in critical condition, and two people lost their lives.
A loaded container slides off a container chassis and crushes pedestrians to death
The gruesome incident happened on the evening of December 21, 2023. At the time we went to press, there were 16 people in the hospital, 1 in critical condition, and two people lost their lives.
The Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, on Facebook, expresses her thoughts and prayers with victims of the trailer accident at Eastern Police.
The gruesome incident happened on the evening of December 21, 2023, by Eastern Police.
New Maternal & Child Hospital Commissioned
Easing pressure on 'Cottage Hospital' in the east of Freetown, a new Maternal, and Child health hospital formally commissioned on Thursday 17th October 2019 and opened to Sierra Leonean populace in a bid to protect and save the lives of pregnant women, lactating mothers, and their infants. The new King Harman Maternal and Child Hospital located at Brookfields in the West part of Freetown.
At Brookfields in the West part of the capital
Easing pressure on 'Cottage Hospital' in the east of Freetown, a new Maternal, and Child health hospital formally commissioned on Thursday 17th October 2019 and opened to Sierra Leonean populace in a bid to protect and save the lives of pregnant women, lactating mothers, and their infants. The new King Harman Maternal and Child Hospital located at Brookfields in the West part of Freetown.
The old Cottage hospital long since exceeded capacity; this prompted the new hospital to be constructed by the Government of Sierra Leone in partnership with the United Nations Food Program (UNFPA) with funds from the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DfID) under the Saving Lives Program.
The new King Harman Maternal and Child Hospital was commissioned and formally declared opened by President Julius Maada Bio.
Addressing the gathering and the general public, the President commended DfID for providing the support to construct and equip the new hospital.
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation to provide the staff required training in maternal, new-born, and child health to ensure the hospital fulfilled its mandate. The human resource in health increase to the present number of health staff by 4,000. And, the national budget allocation to health from 8.9 to 11.6%.
Addressing access to quality healthcare and in health facilities, the government had commissioned and operationalized the National Emergency Medical Services in all districts in the country with over 4,000 referrals to date. Committed to improving diagnostic capacity, the government had allocated a budget to establish the National Medical Diagnostic and Treatment Center.
Improving the status of hospitals across the country, the government will invest in new construction and equip hospitals across the country. One of such is the King Harman Hospital, which provides secondary level care to the people of this community and its environs, President Bio stated.
Minister of Health and Sanitation, Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie, said that the event was the start of getting a reliable and efficient health sector that would be capable of providing quality healthcare delivery to the people of Sierra Leone. He commended the President for the gains achieved so far in the health sector, saying that 2020 would see a turnaround for the health sector.
The British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Simon Mustard, said that the partnership between the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom built on shared history and deep connections. And that the hospital would protect and save the lives of mothers and their infants.
FCC Unveils 49 New Classrooms with Support from Make-It-Happen, a UK Charity Organisation
With funding from Make-It-Happen, a UK Charity Organisation, FCC constructed 20, 18 and 11 classrooms at Henry Fergusson Municipal School, Fattah Rahman Municipal School and E.B. Williams Municipal School respectively.
Newly-constructed classrooms across three municipal schools
Her Worship the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr
On Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th June 2019, Her Worship the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, unveiled a total of 49 newly-constructed classrooms across three municipal schools.
With funding from Make-It-Happen, a UK Charity Organisation, FCC constructed 20, 18 and 11 classrooms at Henry Fergusson Municipal School, Fattah Rahman Municipal School and E.B. Williams Municipal School respectively.
The nine-month long construction of the classroom blocks is one of FCC’s Education Sector initiatives, aimed at improving the teaching and learning environment in municipal schools, in the #TransformFreetown Agenda. Before now, the schools were in deplorable conditions, to the extent that E.B Williams being popularly called “pan bodi skul“.
Mr Michael Colin, Chief Executive of Make-It-Happen
Speaking at the unveiling ceremonies, Mr Michael Colin, Chief Executive of Make-It-Happen, explained, “What we have provided here is planting an acorn. From the seed that we have planted, we very much hope that there will be a mighty oak tree, which will be your performance in the years to come. The reward I look for is to know that a student sitting here today will be a president of this country.”
Also present at the unveiling ceremonies were the British High Commissioner, a representative of Ministry of Education, members of the schools’ boards, Member of Parliament, Councillor and FCC’s Education Officer.
Addressing the students before cutting the ribbons, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr said, “This is about you. This is us actively playing our part to ensure that the quality of your education improves. The ball is now in your court; make use of these classrooms! Your success is our ultimate reward.”
In addition to the classroom blocks, toilets, staff rooms and office spaces were constructed at the schools.