By Abass Mahmoud Sillah Jr
The Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Farida Tunis, has called for stronger institutional reforms, coordinated waste management systems, and sustainable environmental practices to address Sierra Leone’s growing sanitation and environmental challenges. Delivering a statement during a national workshop on waste management and environmental sustainability, Minister Tunis emphasized that sustainable development must remain central to Sierra Leone’s national growth agenda, particularly as the country grapples with rapid urbanization, poor waste disposal systems, and increasing environmental degradation. According to the Minister, sustainable development is not a temporary or isolated concept but a long-term commitment aimed at meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
She referenced the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which recognized tourism as both a contributor to environmental and social challenges and a potential driver of sustainable solutions. “The tourism sector today is no longer operating under traditional approaches,” Tunis stated. “We are now focusing on using tourism as a tool to cushion environmental and social challenges such as poor waste management, youth unemployment, and rural-urban migration.” She explained that the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs is prioritizing sustainable resource management practices that balance economic growth, social development, environmental protection, and cultural preservation.
“In our daily operations, we prioritize the management of resources in ways that balance economic, social, and aesthetic interests with the protection of cultural integrity, ecological systems, and biological diversity,” she noted. The Minister further highlighted the importance of developing practical waste management frameworks, national regulations, and strategic action plans aimed at improving environmental sanitation and preserving Sierra Leone’s tourism potential. According to her, the workshop aligns with global sustainable development priorities, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 12 and 13, which focus on responsible consumption and production, climate action, and environmental sustainability.
She stressed the importance of promoting climate-conscious policies capable of protecting life on land and below water through stronger waste management systems and community participation. “This can only be achieved through our commitment to implementing effective waste management agendas, frameworks, and regulations that support the transition towards a circular economy,” she said. Tunis also referenced ongoing international efforts geared toward reducing waste pollution, food waste, and environmental degradation while strengthening local policies and community engagement. She described the three-day workshop as an important opportunity for Sierra Leone to domesticate global sustainability agendas and develop practical solutions capable of improving waste management systems nationwide.
“It is undeniable that Sierra Leone is severely struggling with the high prevalence of waste and poor waste management practices across several sectors and communities,” she stated. The Minister attributed the country’s persistent sanitation challenges partly to fragmented regulations, overlapping institutional mandates, and weak coordination among agencies responsible for managing natural resources such as land, forests, coastal areas, rivers, mountains, and cultural assets. According to her, the lack of coordinated environmental planning has contributed to unregulated construction patterns, poor drainage systems, flooding, and inefficient waste collection mechanisms, particularly in urban centres. “The fragmented and uncoordinated management of our resources has resulted in poor planning of our built environment,” she explained.
“This has contributed to poor drainage systems, ineffective waste collection, and worsening sanitation conditions.” Tunis further noted that weak coordination among institutions has negatively affected statutory responsibilities and service delivery within the waste management sector. She observed that worsening sanitation conditions in urban communities have increasingly led to blame-shifting among institutions and sectors rather than collaborative problem-solving. “Today one sector is blamed for poor sanitation on beaches, and tomorrow another institution is accused,” she said. “What we need is collective responsibility and coordinated action.” The tourism minister concluded by urging participants at the workshop to openly discuss the root causes of Sierra Leone’s waste management crisis and develop practical, sustainable, and enforceable regulatory frameworks capable of protecting public health, preserving the environment, and strengthening the country’s tourism industry. “As a sector, we will be more than pleased to market Sierra Leone as a clean, attractive, and environmentally sustainable tourism destination,” she affirmed.
