Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has been awarded the prestigious 2024 German Africa Award, recognizing her exceptional contributions to sustainable urban development.
The award was presented during a ceremony in Berlin by Bärbel Bas, President of the Bundestag, Germany’s Parliament.
In a social media post, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr expressed her gratitude, stating, “I was humbled and honored to receive the 2024 German Africa Award… The German Africa Foundation has, since 1993, annually honored one individual from Africa who is considered to have made exceptional contributions to democracy, peace, human rights, sustainable development, research, arts, culture, or societal progress on the continent.”
The Mayor was selected by an independent panel of 20 members from over two dozen candidates.
She was recognized for her efforts in Freetown’s sustainable urban development, including the digitization of property rates, the planting of one million trees, the establishment of the city’s first wastewater treatment plant, and her inclusive governance approach.
Reflecting on the experience, she shared her excitement about recent meetings with key German officials.
“As the 2024 German Africa Award winner, I yesterday met with Svenja Schulze, the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development… We had very productive discussions covering the challenges of rapid urbanization, climate adaptation, and job creation opportunities,” she said.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr dedicated the award to her team and the residents of Freetown, saying, “This award is a recognition of our shared commitment and collective efforts to Transform Freetown and Transform Lives.”
