By Davida Spaine- Solomon

Freetown, 6th January 2026- The Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has officially launched the Urban Greening Competition, marking a major step in the regeneration of the city’s Central Business District (CBD) and a renewed push to make Freetown greener, safer, and more people-friendly.

The competition was launched at a press conference organised by the Freetown City Council (FCC), bringing together government officials, development partners, urban planners, creatives, and members of the media.

Project Overview

Providing the project overview, Ing. Sylvester Gouldson, Project Manager, explained that the competition is part of the City-to-City Cooperation (C2CC) partnership between Freetown and Zurich, Switzerland. The initiative, he said, responds to the challenges of rapid urbanisation, climate stress, and declining public spaces, particularly within the CBD.

According to Ing. Gouldson, the project aims to combine climate action, city beautification, and improved public infrastructure, while directly involving communities in shaping the future of their city.

Four Pillars of CBD Regeneration

Formally launching the competition, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr revealed that the CBD regeneration programme is built around four key elements, funded through the partnership with the City of Zurich.

The first element focuses on pavement improvement. Although road works fall under the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), the Mayor said collaboration has made it possible for FCC to secure funding and work jointly to construct standard pavements across five CBD streets, improving pedestrian safety and accessibility.

The second element addresses car parking and traffic management. The Mayor announced plans to introduce a Controlled Parking Zone, which will regulate parking times such as 30 minutes or one hour, to reduce congestion, improve order, and limit the number of cars parked at any given time.

The third element is street lighting, which the Mayor described as critical to restoring safety and vibrancy to the CBD. She noted that the absence of proper lighting has made the area less secure and less lively, particularly in the evenings.

The fourth and final element urban greening is the focus of the newly launched competition.

Community-Driven Urban Greening

Mayor Aki-Sawyerr emphasized that urban greening goes far beyond tree planting and includes vertical gardens, rooftop gardens, planted facades, flower pots, and the creative use of small open spaces.

“As a council, we certainly don’t know it all,” she said. “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 explained that FCC deliberately chose a participatory approach, recognizing the creativity and innovation of students, young professionals, local creatives, and residents across the city.

The competition will focus on a defined geographic area spanning Walpole Street to Wilberforce Street, and Siaka Stevens Street to Wallace Johnson Street, where participants are encouraged to propose practical and creative greening solutions.

Competition Process

Interested participants will take part in a guided site visit on 9 January, after which they will have approximately three weeks to develop and submit their proposals. Submissions may be made by individuals or teams and must include a site plan, concept design, material palette, and greenery layout.

While professional drawings are encouraged, the Mayor stressed that judging will prioritize innovation, feasibility, cost, environmental benefit, and community value over technical perfection.

UN-Habitat Endorsement and Prizes

Speaking at the event, Trudy Morgan of UN-Habitat welcomed the initiative, describing it as a strong example of community-led urban development. She emphasized that the competition promotes transparency, accountability, and community ownership, adding that the media will be able to track the progress of the project from design to implementation.

She further announced that the competition will award three top prizes of Le 10,000 each, recognizing Innovation, Environmental impact, Clarity and quality of presentation

The competition is open to students, young professionals, and local creatives, reinforcing its inclusive approach.

A Lasting Legacy for Freetown

Winners will be announced on 10 February, and beyond the financial prizes, their designs will be implemented by the Freetown City Council.

“You will be making history,” Mayor Aki-Sawyerr said. “Your ideas will be built, your designs will shape the city, and your names will become part of Freetown’s story.”

She officially declared the Urban Greening Competition open, describing it as a defining moment in the ongoing transformation of the capital and a powerful step toward a greener, more livable Freetown.