John Baimba Sesay
During her keynote address at the launch of the Paynesville Climate Action Plan, Mayor of Freetown and Co-Chair of C40 Cities, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, called for a fundamental shift in global climate financing. She emphasised the urgent need for cities in the Global South to have direct access to the resources required for critical climate action initiatives.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr highlighted that while African nations contribute just 2–3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, they bear the heaviest burden of climate impacts including flash floods, heatwaves, rising food insecurity, and infrastructure strain. Drawing a parallel between Freetown and Paynesville, she stressed how climate shocks disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, particularly women, children, and the urban poor.
With Africa’s urban population expected to triple by 2050, she warned that cities will face mounting infrastructure pressure and escalating climate risks, even as they remain central to economic growth contributing over 70% of the continent’s GDP. “We (Africa) are not powerless. We are mayors working at the local, community levels”, she added.
Commending the Paynesville Climate Action Plan, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr described it as a bold and ambitious roadmap for adaptation, mitigation, and sustainability, one with the potential to inspire similar initiatives in cities across the continent.
Mayor Robert S. Bestman II of the Paynesville City Corporation, in turn, acknowledged that the inspiration for the plan came from a visit to Freetown earlier this year, where he witnessed first-hand the impactful work being carried out by the Freetown City Council in addressing climate challenges. He described the Plan as “not just a document,” but a strategic blueprint guiding the city’s response to the climate crisis at the community level.
The Plan outlines four key priority areas: green infrastructure, clean energy, sustainable transport, and resilient livelihoods. These initiatives aim to protect the environment while promoting socioeconomic development for the residents of Paynesville.
As part of her visit to Liberia, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr also paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Joseph Boakai at the Executive Mansion. Accompanied by fellow mayors Hon. John‑Charuk S. Siafa of Monrovia and Hon. Robert S. BestmanII of Paynesville, she shared insights into how the sister cities of Freetown, Monrovia, and Paynesville are leveraging South-South cooperation to tackle shared urban challenges, particularly the climate crisis and rapid urbanisation.
In the spirit of mutual respect, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr also paid a warm courtesy visit to Her Excellency former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. During the meeting, she reflected on her visit and engaged in a thoughtful exchange on the critical role of African cities in driving development, advancing climate resilience, and promoting people-centred governance.
