By Davida Spaine-Solomon
Freetown, 24th November 2025- The Freetown City Council (FCC), in partnership with the Carter Center, has launched the Inform Women, Transform Lives (IWTL) project as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen sanitation, improve access to public information, and enhance community participation in the city. The initiative was formally introduced on Thursday with the inauguration of a new mural at the Kissy Road Cemetery.
Speaking at the event, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr said the project addresses multiple priorities for the Council, including waste management, women’s empowerment, public access to information, and urban beautification.
“This project has many dimensions and many angles,” the Mayor stated. “In very simple interventions, it touches sanitation, women’s empowerment, access to information, creativity, and beautification.”
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr expressed appreciation to the Carter Center, noting that the Council has collaborated with the organization for the past three years.
“The Carter Center sought us out, and the project we ended up working on is practical and continually evolving,” she said. “The Council has implemented what works in the best interest of the community, and it has captured the attention of residents.”
Kissy Road Cemetery Beautification- The IWTL project includes the transformation of the Kissy Road Cemetery through regular cleaning, improved maintenance, and the creation of a public mural designed to communicate key sanitation messages. The mural also serves as an information platform encouraging residents to use the Council’s 8244 hotline to report improper waste disposal and to access sanitation services.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr said sanitation remains one of Freetown’s most pressing challenges, exacerbated by overcrowding and daily population inflow.
“Thousands of people come into Freetown every day, and without proper planning, it affects our sanitation situation,” she noted. “The messages on the walls are clear: do not throw dirt on the street. We need all Freetonians to act on this message.”
The Mayor added that while offenders are often gone before enforcement teams arrive, the hotline remains a key tool for logging reports and gathering information.
Statement from the Carter Center- City Representative of the Carter Center’s Inform Women, Transform Lives project, Lolo Yeama Sarah Thompson-Oguamah, said the initiative aligns with the Center’s mission to expand access to information, particularly for women.
“It is a privilege to stand at this site as we inaugurate this mural,” she said. “The Inform Women, Transform Lives campaign recognises that when women have access to timely and understandable information, they are better able to protect their families, grow their businesses, and contribute to a more accountable society.”
She described the mural as part of a broader civic effort to strengthen environmental responsibility. Earlier in the day, Innovations for Community Resilience led a Clean Market Day exercise at Dan Street Market, while Hearts and Minds communication firm is coordinating further awareness activities across the Kissy area.
“This mural is more than public art; it is a civic message,” Thompson-Oguamah stated. “It stands as a reminder that clean and thriving communities require collective responsibility and that women must be central in shaping the direction of the city.”
She also acknowledged the leadership of Mayor Aki-Sawyerr and the contributions of Laura Neuman, who has overseen the global implementation of the IWTL campaign.
Community and Council Contributions- Councilor Amadu Kargbo said he was pleased that his constituency is the first to benefit from the initiative.
“This project brings direct impact to the community and supports ongoing efforts to improve sanitation and public awareness,” he said.
Earlier in the day, market women conducted a cleaning exercise at Kennedy Street Market. Zainab Bangura, Chairlady of the Kennedy Street Market, welcomed the initiative.
“We are happy because the project is giving us knowledge on sanitation and encouraging us to take responsibility for keeping our market clean,” she said.
The Freetown City Council said it will continue working with partners to expand the IWTL project to other communities as part of its strategy to promote improved waste management practices and increase public access to information across the city.
