Freetown, 1st April 2026- The Freetown City Council (FCC) has launched a citywide enforcement drive to tackle poor sanitation and neglected frontages across the capital, warning that offenders will face stiff penalties, including fines and possible jail time.
According to the Council, many property owners and occupiers continue to disregard their responsibility to clean and maintain their premises, frontages, and private drainage systems. In some cases, waste is left piled near drainages, creating health hazards and worsening environmental conditions.
Part III of the FCC Solid and Liquid Waste Collection Byelaws, 2024, makes it clear: “An owner or occupier shall maintain and keep clean his frontage, premises and private drainage systems.” Violators risk fines of up to NLe 5,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.
The FCC has now deployed its Metropolitan Police across the municipality to monitor compliance, conduct routine patrols, and document violations. Any individual, business, or institution found flouting the law will face immediate penalties.
“A clean city is not only a legal obligation, it is a shared responsibility,” the Council emphasized in its public notice. “When residents fail to maintain their frontages or misuse public spaces, the entire city suffers the consequences.”
The Council is urging residents, businesses, and institutions to cooperate fully by keeping their surroundings clean, disposing of waste properly, and respecting public spaces.
