Sierra Leone’s Lawyers’ Society has condemned a government proposal to carve up Freetown and surrounding districts into new localities, warning that the plan is premature, costly and risks worsening inefficiencies in local governance.
In an open letter to the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, the group said the move to create two additional localities in Freetown and three in the Western Area Rural District lacked evidence and financial justification.
“Our Society is particularly concerned that your presentation did not include supporting data to substantiate the government’s decision,” the letter, signed by General Secretary Margaret A. L. Davies, said.
The lawyers said further dividing the Western Area would deepen administrative challenges rather than resolve them, especially as the Electoral Commission is due to conduct a nationwide household and demographic survey in 2026. No data from the commission has been provided to back the initiative, they added.
Government officials told a public consultation last week that the changes would improve service delivery. The Lawyers’ Society rejected that argument, insisting that existing ward-level structures already ensure representation. Expanding the number of localities “appears unnecessary and could result in duplicity of functions without improving governance outcomes,” the letter said.
The group also warned that restructuring could add pressure on Sierra Leone’s fragile economy. With mining disruptions and global trade instability already straining finances, they said, the government should prioritize fully devolving powers and ensuring resources for existing councils instead of “incurring additional expenditures on structural changes that lack demonstrated necessity.”
The Lawyers’ Society urged the cabinet to adopt evidence-based policymaking, protect the credibility of the census process and strengthen current governance systems.
The Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
By Joseph Turay
