Orange Sierra Leone has partnered with PlantMama SL to host the country’s first-ever Salone Garden Expo, a two-day environmental event held from 13–14 February 2026 at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Freetown.
The expo marks Sierra Leone’s first national platform dedicated specifically to sustainability, environmental awareness, and climate action. It brings together gardening enthusiasts, environmental advocates, and green entrepreneurs through plant exhibitions, sales displays, demonstrations, and networking opportunities aimed at promoting eco-friendly practices and community participation in climate initiatives.
Officially opening the maiden edition on Feb. 13, Orange SL Chief Executive Officer Aïcha Touré called for stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, and citizens to advance environmental sustainability nationwide. She said events like the Salone Garden Expo highlight the essential role nature plays in human survival and collective responsibility.
“When you walk into a space like this, surrounded by greenery and people who genuinely care, you’re reminded that nature is our food, our water, our shade, and our health. Connectivity and sustainability must move forward together,” she said.
Touré acknowledged the environmental footprint of the telecommunications sector but noted that Orange is investing in energy-efficient networks, solar-powered base stations, and greener operations to reduce emissions while expanding digital access. She stressed that sustainability must be treated as a guiding principle in both corporate and public policy decisions.
The expo is the brainchild of PlantMama SL Founder and CEO Alitta Ansu Katta, who described the event as the realization of a long-standing vision that began with a small balcony garden. She said organizing Sierra Leone’s first large-scale garden expo came with significant challenges, including financial constraints, vendor withdrawals, and sponsorship difficulties.
“There were moments I wondered if anyone believed in this vision the way I did. But this expo shows that persistence can turn a small idea into national action,” she told participants.
Katta encouraged citizens to take personal responsibility for environmental protection through practical steps such as tree planting, composting, and teaching children to grow and care for plants.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Jiwoh Emmanuel Abdulai warned about the consequences of deforestation, recalling the loss of forest cover in his childhood community. He stated that an estimated two out of every five plant species in Sierra Leone are threatened with extinction, describing environmental protection as a matter of national survival.
Abdulai highlighted the government’s flagship environmental programme, Protect Sierra Leone, which aims to restore degraded ecosystems and safeguard remaining forests. He emphasized, however, that such goals require active participation from the private sector and local communities.
“The government cannot do it alone,” he said, commending PlantMama SL and its partners for promoting urban gardening and environmental awareness.
Throughout the opening day, visitors toured vendor booths showcasing ornamental and edible plants, gardening tools, and eco-friendly products. Demonstrations on plant care and sustainable gardening practices were also conducted.
Organizers say the Salone Garden Expo is intended to become a recurring national platform for green entrepreneurship, climate awareness, and citizen-led environmental action across Sierra Leone.
