The Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, continues to champion the city’s urban development efforts, even on weekends.

On Saturday, she met with key German diplomats, including Amb Christoph Retzlaff, Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at the German Foreign Office, and Jens Kraus-Masse, Ambassador of the German Embassy in Freetown.

The discussions focused on the achievements and ongoing challenges related to urban management in the capital city.Mayor Aki-Sawyerr highlighted the critical role of devolving key responsibilities to local councils, particularly in the areas of land use planning and the issuance of building permits.

She emphasized the need for local authorities to have greater control over these mandates to improve urban planning and management in Freetown.During the meeting, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr also expressed her gratitude to the German government for its continued support of the Freetown Cable Car project.

The feasibility studies for this ambitious urban mobility initiative have received backing from Germany, and the mayor discussed the progress being made in securing funding for the construction and operation of the project.

The proposed cable car system aims to ease transportation challenges in Freetown, a city grappling with congestion and limited infrastructure.

The project aligns with Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s Transform Freetown agenda, which focuses on sustainable urban development, climate resilience, and improved public services.

As discussions continue, the Mayor remains optimistic about the prospects of the Freetown Cable Car project and other urban development initiatives, which are poised to significantly improve the lives of the city’s residents.