SLP Intensifies Road Safety and Right of Way Enforcement in Freetown
The Sierra Leone Police (SLP), in collaboration with key partner institutions, on Wednesday intensified safety and Right of Way (ROW) enforcement operations across major congestion-prone corridors in the western area of Freetown, as part of the government’s 2026 road safety and public order agenda.
The early-morning operation targeted Cantonment Road and Riverside, where enforcement teams towed away stationary and abandoned vehicles obstructing traffic flow, particularly along Cantonment Road off Kingharman Road. Authorities said the vehicles had contributed to persistent congestion and posed safety risks to pedestrians forced onto the roadway.
The exercise was led by the Director of Operations, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Dr. John Martin Senesi, with support from a multi-agency team comprising officers of the Road Safety Corps, Local Unit Commanders from the Central and Congo Cross Police Divisions, personnel from the Operational Support Department (OSD) Headquarters, and technical staff of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA).
In addition to vehicle removals, structures illegally erected on designated ROW corridors were identified and marked. Occupants have been given a two-week grace period to vacate voluntarily, after which demolition will commence in line with the law.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu, who later joined the operation, reaffirmed the SLP’s commitment to public safety, describing enforcement of road regulations and ROW laws as non-negotiable. He said reclaiming roads and walkways is essential to easing traffic, improving emergency response times, and enhancing urban safety.
The Director General of the SLRA, Engineer Kanneh, emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration, warning that encroachment on ROW undermines road durability, worsens congestion, and threatens public safety.
Authorities said the enforcement will continue in other identified hotspots, including Sir Samuel Lewis Road and surrounding areas. Members of the public have been urged to cooperate by removing abandoned vehicles and refraining from erecting structures on road reserves as the operations continue nationwide.
