Police Embarks on Clearing of Right of Way in Freetown
In alignment with President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of Action, the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has commenced decisive safety operations aimed at ensuring safer roads and enforcing the Right of Way (ROW) across key locations in the Western Area.
The nationwide action, spearheaded by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. William Fayia Sellu, is anchored in the Sierra Leone Police Strategic Development Plan (SDP), particularly Goal One, which seeks to enhance public safety and crime reduction. The ongoing operations give practical effect to Interventions 14 and 17 of the SDP, which focus on crime reduction as well as improved traffic management and road safety measures.
Acting in compliance with the presidential proclamation, IGP Sellu and his command team on Tuesday carried out the demolition of makeshift and illegal structures erected on the Right of Way and beneath the Hill Cut overhead bridge. The exercise was aimed at restoring free vehicular movement, reducing traffic congestion, and improving overall public safety in the affected areas.
During the operation, the police also dismantled an illegal settlement that had reportedly been used as a hub for drug trade and trafficking, a development authorities say posed a serious threat to community safety and national security.
The enforcement drive was further extended to IMATT, Regent, and areas around the American Embassy, where unregulated timber trading activities had encroached on the Right of Way. These activities, according to the police, were causing persistent traffic congestion and exposing pedestrians and other road users to unnecessary risks.
The Sierra Leone Police reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the operation across the country, emphasizing that the action is part of a broader strategy to reclaim public spaces, enhance road safety, and reduce crime in line with government policy and the SLP’s Strategic Development Plan.
Residents and road users have been urged to cooperate with the police and adhere strictly to traffic regulations, as the Year of Action takes concrete shape through visible enforcement and public safety initiatives.
