On May 6,2025, the Mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr the honour of joining the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) at their Annual National Media Awards 2024/25, a celebration of journalistic excellence, courage, and unwavering dedication to building a better Sierra Leone.

In her goodwill message, she underscored the indispensable role journalists play in safeguarding democracy, promoting good governance, informing the public, and empowering citizens through transparency and accountability. Their influence spans from spotlighting community needs and supporting local development efforts to raising awareness on climate action and advocating for meaningful decentralisation among others,

Despite these vital contributions, journalists continue to face significant challenges; from limited resources and unsupportive working conditions to the existence of restrictive laws like the cyber legislation, even after the repeal of criminal libel.

As she congratulated this year’s award winners, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr encouraged them to keep writing, keep questioning, and keep broadcasting never losing sight of the transformative power of their voices in shaping Sierra Leone’s future.