Thr Mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has been honored with the 2024 German Africa Award, one of the continent’s most prestigious accolades, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to sustainable urban development.
The award was presented to her by Bärbel Bas, President of the Bundestag, Germany’s Parliament, at a ceremony in Berlin.The German Africa Foundation has, since 1993, annually recognized individuals from Africa who have made outstanding contributions to democracy, peace, human rights, sustainable development, or societal progress.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr was selected from over two dozen candidates by an independent panel of 20 members for her leadership and achievements in transforming Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital city.In her acceptance speech, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr expressed deep gratitude for the recognition.
She dedicated the award to her teams, partners, and the residents of Freetown, highlighting the collective commitment to the city’s transformation.
“This award is a recognition of our shared commitment and collective efforts to Transform Freetown and Transform Lives,” she stated.
The award celebrates Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s notable initiatives, including the digitization of property rates, the planting and nurturing of one million trees, and the establishment of Freetown’s first wastewater treatment plant with circular economy benefits.
Her approach to governance has been characterized by inclusive community engagement, an essential component of her broader “Transform Freetown” agenda.
During her visit to Germany, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr held high-level discussions with key government officials and business leaders, including Svenja Schulze, the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Katja Kaul, Minister of State for the German Federal Foreign Office.
The meetings focused on addressing the challenges of rapid urbanization, climate adaptation, and job creation, as well as the potential for further collaboration on the feasibility studies conducted for Freetown’s Cable Car project.
Reflecting on these engagements, the Mayor expressed excitement about advancing the conversations to secure additional support for her city’s development initiatives.
“I am excited about taking forward these conversations in order to harness additional support for our Transform Freetown – Transforming Lives Development Agenda,” she added.
The German Africa Award highlights Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s pivotal role in fostering sustainable urban development and reaffirms her dedication to improving the lives of Freetown’s residents.
Her leadership continues to position Freetown as a model for cities across Africa, demonstrating that urban challenges can be addressed through innovative and inclusive strategies.
The award ceremony was a significant moment not only for Mayor Aki-Sawyerr but also for Sierra Leone, as it showcased the country’s strides toward sustainable development on the international stage.
