Freetown, November 12, 2025 —Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, has accused the central government of deliberately obstructing the effective functioning of the Freetown City Council (FCC).
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, she said recent actions by the Ministry of Local Government have crippled council operations and undermined local governance.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr, flanked by Deputy Mayor Kweku Lisk Esq., Chief Councillor Zainab Conteh, and several councillors, alleged that the ministry is engaging in a “political campaign” aimed at depriving the council of senior staff, particularly at critical times in its operations.
She refuted a recent press statement from the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs dated November 4, which directed the implementation of council staff transfers.
The Mayor said while the council is not opposed to lawful staff movements, it strongly objects to the transfer of its Finance Officer at a time when FCC is finalizing its 2026 budget and piloting the Public Financial Management (PFM) Smart System — the only local council in the country to do so.
Aki-Sawyerr also expressed frustration over a deteriorating working relationship with the Chief Administrator, Raman Tom Farmar, citing his refusal to cooperate with elected officials. She disclosed that the council has formally written to the Local Government Service Commission requesting his transfer.
Chief Councillor Zainab Conteh accused both the Chief Administrator and the Minister of Local Government of engaging in intimidation and bullying tactics against council members.
Deputy Mayor Kweku Lisk added that staff deployment issues are the sole responsibility of the Local Government Service Commission, not the ministry.
He condemned what he described as an overreach by the Ministry of Local Government, saying it has “usurped the functions” of the commission.
The Mayor further lamented the government’s delay in disbursing funds to local councils, revealing that only the final quarter of the 2024 allocation has been released so far this year, a situation she said has strained the council’s ability to deliver services to the people of Freetown.
