By Davida Spaine-Solomon
Freetown, 15th May, 2026 — The Freetown City Council (FCC) has begun the installation of 12 air quality monitoring stations across the city in a major step toward strengthening environmental data collection and public health protection.
The initiative was marked this morning at the SLBC compound in New England, where officials, including FCC Climate Change Officer Yatta Kallon, a member of the MDU Climate Change team Miracle Saccoh, and representatives from Murialdo Technical Institute, witnessed the installation of the first monitor.
The devices are designed to provide real-time and long-term data on key air pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), and carbon dioxide (CO₂).
Officials said the system will help identify pollution levels and exposure spikes that were previously difficult to detect.
According to FCC, the absence of such data has long made air quality risks “invisible” until they manifest in public health cases, including asthma attacks, heart disease, and reduced lung function.
The council identified major contributors to urban air pollution as vehicle emissions, diesel generators, charcoal and wood burning for cooking, and poor waste management practices.
To address these challenges, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr urged residents to use FCC-approved waste management services, while calling on the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) to strengthen vehicle roadworthiness standards to reduce emissions. She also encouraged the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) to improve power supply reliability in order to reduce dependence on diesel generators.
She emphasized that improving air quality is essential to protecting public health and building a more resilient city.
The project forms part of the council’s broader climate and environmental strategy aimed at addressing urban pollution and strengthening climate adaptation efforts in Freetown.
