By Joseph Momoh, Daily Scope
On November 12, 2025, the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, alongside Deputy Mayor Kweku Lisk and Zurich Mayor Corine Mauch, launched a significant five-year Urban Regeneration Project during a sod-turning ceremony at Freetown City Hall.
This initiative is part of a CHF 2.5 million City-to-City Urban Regeneration Partnership between Freetown and Zurich, designed to revitalize Freetown’s Central Business District with enhancements in lighting, greener spaces, and increased climate resilience.
At the event, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr presented Mayor Mauch and her delegation with a sash and the keys to the city, symbolizing the strong friendship between the two municipalities. She remarked that this partnership aligns with Freetown City Council’s vision encapsulated in the “Transform Freetown, Transforming Lives” agenda. Aki-Sawyerr referenced a 2019 meeting that served as the catalyst for this collaboration, highlighting that ongoing cooperation will facilitate continued progress and long-term benefits for the community.
Mayor Corine Mauch expressed her gratitude to Mayor Aki-Sawyerr and the Freetown City Council for their hospitality and the symbolic keys to the city. She noted her excitement to experience Freetown’s vibrancy firsthand and commended the achievements made under Aki-Sawyerr’s leadership. Mauch emphasized that the City-to-City partnership exemplifies Zurich’s commitment to international cooperation and furthers Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on sustainable cities and communities.
The project, set for implementation by GOAL Sierra Leone, will benefit from technical oversight by UN-Habitat, with key contributions from the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) and the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA).
The ceremony concluded with a guard of honor by the Freetown Metropolitan Police, a tour of key project sites in the Central Business District, and the official sod-turning to mark the beginning of this transformative Urban Regeneration Project.
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