FREETOWN – Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has reminded residents to adhere to updated government procedures regarding the handling of dead bodies discovered in public spaces across the capital.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Mayor said directives introduced by the Government of Sierra Leone on November 1, 2025, resulted in the dissolution of the burial team previously managed by the Freetown City Council.
She emphasized that members of the public should no longer contact the council in such situations. Instead, individuals who encounter a body in the streets are required to report immediately to the Sierra Leone Police via the emergency hotline 900.
According to the outlined protocol, police and a medical examiner will respond to the scene to document and examine the body before arranging transport to a mortuary within two hours. A postmortem examination will then be conducted, followed by the issuance of a death certificate.
Where necessary, the medical examiner will notify the Ministry of Social Welfare to assist in identifying the deceased and locating relatives. A designated burial team will subsequently oversee the burial process, including providing a coffin or shroud, while the city council will ensure that a grave is prepared.
The Mayor said the reminder is intended to reinforce compliance with national procedures and ensure that such cases are handled in a coordinated and dignified manner.
