By Millicent Senava Mannah
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer of Freetown engaged the press on November 26, 2024, at the Freetown City Council (FCC) Building. The meeting focused on the “Transformed Freetown – Transforming Lives 2024-2028” project, an ambitious initiative aimed at addressing critical challenges and transforming the city over the next four years.
The Mayor outlined the project’s key objectives, which include the creation of 120,000 jobs for women and youth by 2028. She emphasized that this development agenda was officially launched on July 4, 2024, and is designed to tackle pressing issues such as youth unemployment, climate change,and urbanization while promoting sustainable growth and prosperity.
“This project is designed to provide sustainable solutions and create economic opportunities, particularly for the youth and women, who are disproportionately affected by unemployment,” Mayor Aki-Sawyer explained. She also highlighted that Freetown’s growing population, currently over 1.2 million, is expected to double by 2028, largely due to high migration to the city.
The initiative focuses on four main areas: climate action, heritage tourism, digital economy and human capital development. Under the climate action framework, the city plans to invest in green energy, deforestation prevention, heat adaptation and waste management, aiming to mitigate the effects of climate change. The project also prioritizes city regeneration, upgrading informal settlements and promoting green mobility.
Another significant component of the initiative is heritage tourism, which aims to position Freetown as a cultural hub by promoting its heritage sites, festivals and creative arts. The digital economy framework focuses on enhancing access to digital skills and fostering the digital transformation of the city, creating a robust environment for technological innovation.
Human capital development, which includes strengthening early childhood education, basic skills development, improving health outcomes and increasing access to water and food, also forms a cornerstone of the project.
A key highlight of the press briefing was the discussion of the proposed cable car project for Freetown. The Mayor described it as a “win-win” situation, designed to reduce emissions, ease congestion and provide a more sustainable transportation alternative. The cable car will connect key areas of the city, including the central business district and hillside communities, with stations planned at strategic locations.
“The cable car project will enhance mobility and accessibility, providing a fast and reliable alternative for over 60,000 to 80,000 passengers a day. It will also help alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the environmental impact of vehicle emissions,” Mayor Aki-Sawyer said.
The feasibility studies for the project have been completed and the Ministry of Transport is fully on board, with the proposal currently under review by the Office of the Vice President. The estimated cost of the project is $92 million, which includes equipment, stations, power, and maintenance. Construction is expected to take 18 months once funding is secured.
Mayor Aki-Sawyer also emphasized that the success of the “Transformed Freetown – Transforming Lives” initiative hinges on collaboration with both local and international partners. However, she acknowledged that securing the necessary funding remains a major challenge.
As Freetown continues to expand, the Mayor remains committed to ensuring the city’s sustainable development through innovative projects and targeted interventions aimed at improving the lives of its residents. The “Transformed Freetown – Transforming Lives” initiative aligns with the national Big Five Agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring that Freetown’s growth benefits all sectors of society.
“By 2028, we hope to have made significant strides in improving the living conditions of our citizens and creating a more sustainable and prosperous Freetown,” the Mayor concluded.
