By Allan Luke
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, Jan 6 Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has launched the Urban Greening Competition, a major initiative aimed at regenerating the city’s Central Business District (CBD) while promoting greener, safer, and more people-friendly urban spaces.
Speaking at the launch, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr said the competition is an opportunity for residents to contribute ideas to make the city more environmentally sustainable. “As a council, we certainly don’t know it all, that is why this competition is being done to give Freetonians the opportunity to bring forward their ideas on how we can green our city,” she said.
The competition, organized by the Freetown City Council (FCC) in partnership with UN-Habitat and GOAL Sierra Leone, invites local designers, students, and professionals to propose nature-based solutions that enhance public spaces, reduce flooding, and combat rising temperatures in the CBD.
The initiative is part of a broader effort by the FCC to improve urban resilience, tackle congestion, and restore green spaces in the city’s commercial heart.
Submissions for the competition will be evaluated based on innovation, climate resilience, and cost-effectiveness, with winning entries receiving cash prizes.
