Mayor Aki-Sawyerr Engages UN Electoral Mission to Address Local Governance Issues

Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr met with the United Nations Electoral Needs Assessment Mission on June 18, 2025, to discuss critical electoral issues affecting local governance in Sierra Leone.

The meeting, held in a constructive atmosphere, included Councillors Zainab Conteh, Hakiratu Maxwell-Caulker, and Unisa Kamara.

During the engagement, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr emphasized the urgent need for action on the slow implementation of the Tripartite Recommendations.

She expressed concerns about how the current proportional representation (PR) electoral system is impacting local government service delivery. “We now have several wards without a councillor, while other wards have multiple councillors,” she noted, highlighting the disparities that hinder effective governance.

The Mayor expressed hope that the discussions would lead to improvements in the electoral system, facilitating the conduct of free and fair elections in Sierra Leone. “I am hopeful that the outcome of this mission will contribute positively to improving electoral systems,” she stated.