The Freetown City Council Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr was in Essen in Germany where she attended this vital cable car project. She said: “Under the patronage of the German Federal Minister for Digital and Transport Dr. Volker Wissing, the Cable Car World Congress brought together national and municipal government officials, cable car manufacturers, construction companies, professional advisors and other industry participants committed to the delivery of the cable car as an integrated element of a green, urban mobility solution. (Photo: Aki-Sawyerr).

“I was honoured to be hosted by the Mayor of Essen on Monday evening and to respond to his kind words of welcome. The Congress was officially opened on Tuesday morning with a statement by the German State Secretary for Digital and Transport Hartmut Hoppner. I then delivered a welcome statement and over the course of the two-day event I participated in a panel on financing of cable cars, presented an overview of the Freetown Cable Car Project and together with other members of the project team, engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with cable car manufacturers, potential project financiers and advisors.

“The availability of the technical and financial feasibility studies funded by C40 Cities Climate Finance Facility and undertaken by GIZ increased the level of interest in the project from potential participants. Furthermore, the support for the project by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Transport and the synergies between the Freetown Cable Car Project and the World Bank funded Integrated and Resilient Urban Mobility Projects strengthens the investment case for the cable car.

“The Freetown Cable Car Project currently comprises of three proposed lines: the East Corridor; the Mountain Corridor; and the West Corridor. The feasibility studies have been undertaken for the 3.6 km long East Corridor route which will run from Kissy Ferry Terminal to Government Wharf via Up Gun, Mountain Cut and Eastern Police. The journey time along this route will be reduced to just 14.5 minutes!

“Our discussions and engagements at the Cable Car World Congress have been extremely constructive and we are proceeding with the next steps on the journey which is to structure and secure the financing for the Freetown Cable Car Project. We hope to complete this important step within the next 6 to 9 months. #FreetownCableCar #TransformFreetown #TransformingLives,” Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE concludes.