By George M.O. Williams
Deputy Mayor, Kweku Lisk
Freetown’s Deputy Mayor, Kweku Lisk, revealed on Saturday, August 31, 2024, that the Freetown City Council (FCC) is currently grappling with significant challenges in safeguarding its property. During an interview with Premier News, Lisk highlighted the increasing difficulties the Council faces in securing its assets within the municipality, necessitating the allocation of substantial funds to protect these properties.
Lisk explained that, in the past, fencing was not deemed necessary, as Council property were easily identifiable and well-maintained. However, the rise in human activities has complicated the task of maintaining and asserting ownership of these assets. In response, the FCC has embarked on a strategy to fence its property, adding that they recently completed the fencing of the Ascension Town and Kissy Road Cemeteries.
The Deputy Mayor also discussed the Council’s plans for future developments, which include constructing new markets, similar to the recently completed market in Wilberforce Village, and continuing to fence other municipal property, among these is the Akibo-Betts Municipal School, which has been at the center of a dispute involving a Member of Parliament representing the Congo Town Community, who has attempted to acquire the school’s land.
These remarks were made during the Bilateral Budget discussion held at City Hall, where it was disclosed that the FCC has proposed a budget of NLe77,192,976 for 2025, a significant increase from the NLe54,961,000 target set for 2024. The proposed budget is intended to enhance workplace efficiency, improve waste collection and disposal, upgrade infrastructure, and address other key priorities of the Council.
Lisk emphasized the importance of the budget discussion in informing Freetown residents about how the Council generates income and plans to utilize government allocations. He stressed that involving citizens in the budgeting process would help them understand the benefits and identify any gaps in service delivery.
The Deputy Mayor further outlined the FCC’s commitment to using the allocated funds for sanitation, market construction, health facility support, infrastructure improvements, and overall service enhancement. He also highlighted the Council’s focus on addressing climate change, disaster management, and increasing public engagement on issues affecting Freetown’s development.
Addressing concerns about tax collection, Lisk acknowledged that the FCC has experienced low tax revenue but assured that the Council would work on a public engagement strategy to raise awareness about the importance of taxes.
The FCC’s efforts aim to protect Freetown’s assets and ensure the city’s continued development and sustainability.