By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

Plans to transform Freetown through eleven (11) priority sectors using an inclusive approach, underpinned by innovation and data-driven performance management are still on course, authorities have said.

On the 26th November, 2024, the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki Sawyerr and her team updated journalists on the latest developments regarding the $92 thousand dollars of the cable car project and its transformative drives.

The media update event was held at the New City Hall, Head office in Freetown.

In her submissions, she said the cable car project would create over one hundred and twenty thousand jobs for youth within the municipality of Freetown at the first Transform Freetown work.

“Transform Freetown process is our targets; our priorities are grouped within four clusters resilience, human development, healthy cities and urban mobility.” The tasks of the working groups was to set targets in each priority sector and design the initiatives necessary to achieve them, she said.

Mayor Aki Sawyerr said the recent experience has demonstrated that the city like others around the world, must become more resilient to environmental, social and economic shocks and stresses that, such are a growing realities of the 21st century city development.

Undertaking challenges within three priority sectors environmental management, revenue mobilization and urban planning and housing are key in curbing climate change.

“Spread employment opportunities and an appropriately skilled population is essential to our individual and collective prosperity. In this cluster, we have four priority sectors education, skills development, job creation and support for people with disabilities.” These are intended to cultivate a diverse and dynamic economy with a skilled workforce that attracts and retains businesses and urban mobility.

However, addressing some of these challenges will support the achievement of other priorities, particularly those related to the environment, economic development, health and safety and job creation. Speedy urban population growth, the increasing use of private modes of transport and poor urban planning limit urban mobility, and create particular challenges for women and children, the elderly and the disabled.

According the Chief Administrator of Freetown City Council, Raman Tom Farmar said the Media community engagement is highly significant in state building, adding that opportunities, accountability and transparency at all levels are vital.

The Freetown City Council’s Administration Department is responsible for ensuring that all departments within the council are performing efficiently, he said.

This includes supervising and coordinating the activities of the council’s staff and other departments,” he said.

Pressmen are in doubt concerning the timely implementation of the project.