In a strongly worded letter dated 3 June 2025, Freetown’s Mayor, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has challenged the government’s plan to split the capital into two separate cities, describing the move as “ill-advised,” “disruptive,” and lacking in proper public consultation.
The letter, addressed to the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Ambassador Tamba John Lamina, comes in response to reports that Cabinet has approved proposals to create two separate local councils within the city—a decision that Mayor Aki-Sawyerr warned would hurt service delivery, place undue strain on government finances, and undermine Freetown’s historical and economic role.
“Freetown has been a beacon of resilience since its founding in 1792— a sanctuary for the formerly enslaved, a hub of education, and the economic heartbeat of Sierra Leone. Fragmenting it now threatens to erode its identity and potential,” the Mayor wrote.
At the core of the Mayor’s concerns is the lack of public input into the decision, which she described as “alarming” given its far-reaching consequences. She also criticised the move for failing to address the real challenges facing urban governance in Freetown.
“Instead of solving problems, splitting the city would only multiply them,” she warned. “The current system already suffers from fragmented responsibilities, with key services like land use, roads, and water provision managed by central government agencies instead of the City Council. Adding another council will only make coordination harder.”
She also pointed out that initiatives like the popular “Operation Dorti Mus Go” waste management programme, which was designed to operate across the entire city, would suffer under a divided administration.
Financial concerns featured heavily in the Mayor’s letter. She revealed that 80% of Freetown’s property tax revenue last year came from the western wards, while the more populous eastern wards contributed just 20%. She cautioned that splitting the city could deepen these inequalities, leaving some areas underfunded and disadvantaged.
Aki-Sawyerr also expressed doubts about the government’s financial capacity to fund an additional local council, especially given that tied grants for this year have yet to be paid out.
“It is hard to see how a new council could be sustainable when the government is already struggling to meet its current obligations,” she argued.
While acknowledging that the President has the authority to declare new localities, the Mayor cited the Local Government Act 2022, which requires decisions on new councils to be based on data such as population density, contiguity, and growth potential.
She raised concerns about the reliability of the 2021 Mid-Term Census, which controversially recorded a sharp drop in Freetown’s population, arguing that such a drop does not justify creating more administrative boundaries.
In closing, the Mayor appealed for a rethink in the name of good governance and national unity.
“I therefore respectfully request that Freetown be left as Freetown,” she concluded.
The Ministry of Local Government is yet to respond officially to the letter. However, the Mayor’s intervention has reignited debate on decentralisation, urban governance, and accountability, a conversation that will likely shape the future of Sierra Leone’s capital.
