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The Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs has announced that it will hold a public consultation on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the Freetown City Council Auditorium to discuss proposed plans to divide Freetown into two cities with separate local councils.
Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Ak-Sawyerr, who shared the announcement, has strongly opposed the proposal, arguing that it would worsen existing challenges in the capital rather than solve them.
“I am not opposed to the plans because they will impact my tenure as Mayor of Freetown; no, I am opposed to the plans because they will negatively impact the future of Freetown and the lives of Freetonians,” she said.
According to Mayor Ak-Sawyerr, service delivery in Freetown is already hampered by coordination challenges and inadequate financial resources. She stressed that dividing the city into two councils would double coordination difficulties and further stretch limited resources.
“Coordination with MDAs that hold key urban management functions will now be required by two local councils instead of one. Meanwhile, already inadequate financial resources for service delivery will be diverted to fund another local council office and staff. This will not generate wealth or stimulate economic growth, but rather increase the wage bill and reduce funds for services,” she explained.
The Mayor also highlighted concerns about inequity, noting that the East End of Freetown, which contributes only 20% of property rates but has the highest population, would be severely disadvantaged under the proposed division.
She further recalled that as of September 15, 2025, Freetown City Council and other local councils had yet to receive their 2025 budget allocations for devolved functions, despite receiving only the final quarter of the 2024 allocation in August.
“Freetown deserves to be allowed to meet its potential and flourish. The proposed plans will not solve any of Freetown’s challenges; they will make them worse. So I will continue to say ‘Save Freetown!’” she declared.
The upcoming consultation is expected to give citizens an opportunity to share their views on the controversial proposal.
