By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

As part of her outstanding records and unwavering contributions towards humanity and national development, the Mayor of Freetown City Council, Yvonne Aki Sawyer, has been honoured to be awarded 2024 German Africa Prize by the German Africa Foundation.

The German Africa Foundation is a non-partisan foundation that has honored individuals with outstanding contributions who have played a role in promoting democracy, peace, human rights, sustainable development, research, arts and culture, and positive societal issues in Africa since 1993.

The Mayor has been informed that her award will be delivered to her in person by the President of the Bundestag (German Parliament) come October 16th Berlin this year.

As a woman of substance, she has dedicated the award to her teams, colleagues of standing by her and to all Freetonians.

Going through Mayor Aki Sawyer’s work, 1999, Aki-Sawyerr co-founded the charity Sierra Leone War Trust (SLWT), which aimed at promoting humanitarian, social and welfare conditions of children and youth in Sierra Leone.

During the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone in 2014, she led a campaign in the UK with the aim of increasing international awareness about the outbreak.

She took a “sabbatical” leave from IDEA and joined Sierra Leone’s National Ebola Response Centre (NERC), and became the director of planning back then.

At the height of West Africa epidemic, Ebola, Aki-Sawyer moved back to Sierra Leone and recruited volunteers to work in the Ebola Treatment Centres.

Her award now is not a mistake by the German foundation because Aki-Sawyer has immensely devoted her time, energy, knowledge to national development.

Her development impact is much more felt on most Sierra Leoneans now than any other time.