Freetown, 28th October 2025 – Environmental campaigner Tommy Garnett has issued an urgent call for national attention as deforestation and illegal construction continue to encroach on the Guma Dam catchment area, Freetown’s most critical water source.
Describing the situation as “a recipe for disaster,” Garnett warned that unchecked human activity in the protected Mile 13 zone poses a direct threat to the water security of Freetown and the ecological stability of the Western Area.
“This is not just about trees, it’s about survival,” Garnett said, sharing a recent satellite image that reveals alarming levels of encroachment into the forested buffer zone. “We are watching the slow destruction of the very foundation that supports life in the capital.”
The Guma Dam, which supplies water to over a million residents in Freetown, depends on the integrity of its surrounding forest to regulate rainfall, prevent erosion, and maintain water quality. But Garnett says land grabbing, unregulated construction, and political indifference are accelerating the degradation of this vital ecosystem.
In a passionate appeal, Garnett urged media institutions to amplify the crisis and hold decision makers accountable. “I am begging our media gurus to bring these atrocities to light,” he said. “Too many people are blissfully unaware of what is happening to nature, especially in the Western Area, which should be the benchmark for environmental governance across the country.”
Garnett’s warning follows his earlier appearance on Truth Morning Devotion in September, where he raised similar concerns. Now, with visual evidence in hand, he is calling for immediate government intervention, stricter enforcement of environmental laws, and a nationwide public awareness campaign.
