6/1/2022

Yesterday morning Ms Antonella Bundu presented to me a Certificate of Commendation from The Florence City Council (Italy). I was deeply touched by the words of the citation “To Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr Mayor of Freetown. For her ideal and concrete commitment to improve the social and environmental conditions at both global and local level, for the benefit of her community as well as the whole world”.

The presentation was even more special because Antonella is of mixed Italian and Sierra Leonean parentage and we went to St Joseph’s Secondary School together but hadn’t seen each other since 1986! Antonella lives in Florence and contested to be the Mayor of Florence in 2018! Although she was not successful in her bid, she remains active in Italian politics, being a councillor, and was asked to make this presentation to me when the President of Florence City Council learnt that she was traveling to Freetown.

I am grateful that the work we are doing in Freetown is impacting lives right here on the ground but is also raising the profile of Freetown on the global stage, thus opening up more opportunities for support and collaboration.

On the anniversary of 6th January 1999, may we today remember those who lost their lives whilst we continue to work together to build a brighter future for our city.

#TransformFreetown

Credit: Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE