THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Berlin witnessed a momentous occasion on the evening of 16 October 2024 as Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, the dynamic mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, received the prestigious German Africa Award 2024. The President of the German Bundestag, Bärbel Bas, presented the award at the Allianz Forum, before an audience of about 180 guests, including influential figures from politics, business and civil society.
Ms Aki-Sawyerr’s recognition by the German Africa Foundation celebrates her remarkable work towards equal rights, civic participation and sustainable urban planning through her initiative ‘Transform Freetown’. Since taking office in 2018 and after being re-elected in 2023, Aki-Sawyerr has made significant strides in addressing the challenges of rapid urbanization and climate change, particularly in a city facing frequent floods and landslides.
President of the Bundestag, Bärbel Bas, praised Aki-Sawyerr’s innovative approach to politics, highlighting her efforts to advance the rights of women and girls and foster democracy through grassroots engagement. Whether through community meetings, school visits or social media outreach, Aki-Sawyerr has shown that local politics can be inclusive and impactful. Her work, Ms Bas noted, serves as an inspiration to women in politics, showcasing how bold leadership can drive societal change.
Freetown, like many African cities, is grappling with the effects of rapid population growth and climate-related disasters. Under Aki-Sawyerr’s leadership, the city has embraced a series of creative yet practical solutions. Her ‘Freetown the Treetown’ initiative, for instance, has planted over 1.2 million trees, exceeding the initial goal of one million. The initiative not only mitigates landslides and combats coastal flooding but also creates jobs by involving citizens in the care and tracking of the trees through a digital platform.
Looking to the future, Aki-Sawyerr has also set her sights on modernizing Freetown’s infrastructure. She spearheaded a feasibility study for a cable car system aimed at reducing traffic congestion and lowering CO2 emissions. With France already committed to the project, she called on Germany to join the initiative, emphasizing the need for global partnerships in tackling urban challenges.
In his laudatory speech, Claus Stäcker, jury president and Head of Africa Programmes at Deutsche Welle, lauded Aki-Sawyerr’s determination to confront the city’s challenges head-on. Her achievements, the mayor however stressed, are not hers alone but the result of collective efforts of the citizens of Freetown, a model of success for cities far beyond West Africa.
The German Africa Award, established in 1993, honours individuals from Africa who have made exceptional contributions to democracy, peace and sustainable development. Aki-Sawyerr’s visionary leadership truly embodies the spirit of the award, making her a deserving recipient in 2024.
