The Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, has issued a strong public rebuke against the government’s announced plan to divide the historic city into two separate local councils, warning that the move will jeopardize essential service delivery, strain public finances, and threaten the city’s rich legacy.
In an open letter addressed to Hon Ambassador Tamba John Lamina, Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr expressed deep concern over the Cabinet’s approval of the city’s division without any consultation with Freetonians, the people who will bear the brunt of the decision.
“Freetown is more than just a city — it is a symbol of history, culture, and resilience, founded in 1792 as a haven for freed slaves and now home to over 15% of Sierra Leone’s population,” the Mayor stated. She cautioned that fragmenting the city into two separate administrative units will exacerbate existing challenges rather than solve them.
Currently, essential urban management functions like land use planning, road maintenance, and water provision remain fragmented across multiple ministries and agencies. The Mayor argued that creating two councils will only deepen coordination problems, undermine ongoing initiatives such as the recently passed citywide Solid and Liquid Waste Collection ByeLaws, and complicate the planned “Operation Dorti Mus Go” waste management campaign.
On the financial front, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr highlighted disparities in revenue collection across the city, noting that splitting Freetown risks disadvantaging the eastern wards, where compliance rates and revenue per capita lag behind the west. She also pointed out that the city has yet to receive any of the government’s 2025 tied grants critical for funding schools, health units, and other services.
“The creation of a second local council will impose additional administrative costs on an already stretched government budget,” she warned. “Without proven systems or external support, the financial viability of such a council is highly questionable.”
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr also called attention to legal and data-driven considerations under the Local Government Act 2022, emphasizing that decisions on administrative boundaries must account for population data, geography, and future growth potential. Citing the 2021 census that showed a 42.3% population decline in Freetown since 2015, she argued that fragmentation is not justified.
The Mayor concluded with a heartfelt plea: “Freetown should be left as Freetown — united, vibrant, and focused on building a sustainable future for all its residents.”
As the debate intensifies, Freetonians and stakeholders await the government’s next move on this contentious proposal that could reshape the city’s future.
By Julian Amara
