By George M.O. Williams
Sierra Leone – November 21, 2025: Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has officially unveiled a series of public art murals on the Kissy Road Cemetery fence, designed to promote sanitation awareness and strengthen women’s access to information. The unveiling took place on Friday, November 21, 2025, as part of the Carter Center-supported Inform Women, Transform Lives project.
The artwork, created by local artists from Kontri People Arts and Crafts, forms part of a global initiative that uses public art to empower women, enhance civic responsibility, and beautify urban spaces.
Empowerment Through Art
Speaking at the event, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr described the murals as a blend of women’s empowerment, sanitation messaging, and beautification. She noted that the illustrations serve not only as a visual improvement to the cemetery fence but also as a tool to inform residents about their role in keeping Freetown clean.
The Mayor also highlighted the growing challenges of sanitation management in the capital, citing rapid population growth, unplanned settlements, limited land-use controls, and difficulties in accessing certain communities with waste collection vehicles. She further pointed to the increasing problem of rubble dumping from demolished buildings.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr expressed gratitude to the Carter Center, the Laura Foundation, and the artists for their support, urging the public to respect and preserve the artwork as a valuable community resource.
Voices of Support
Councillor Agnes Marah emphasized the significance of the murals, noting that they symbolize the critical role women play in receiving and sharing information that impacts their communities. She called for broader inclusion of women in communication and sanitation efforts.
Representing the Carter Center, Yeama Thompson reinforced the project’s goal of fostering a peaceful and informed society by ensuring that everyone, especially women, has access to vital information. She noted that similar mural projects are being implemented in other cities worldwide under the same initiative.
Councillor Zainab Bangura commended Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s commitment to improving sanitation in Freetown and praised women’s ongoing involvement in maintaining cleanliness across the city. She referenced the recent large-scale cleaning exercise at Kennedy Street Market as an example of women’s impactful participation.
Bangura also encouraged residents to use 8244, the official hotline, to request waste collection services and improve reporting and response.
The murals form part of the broader Inform Women, Transform Lives initiative, which aims to empower women, enhance public awareness, and promote civic responsibility. By combining art with advocacy, the project seeks to break barriers to information access and strengthen community engagement in Freetown.