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The Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has clarified that the Local Government Act (LGA) 2022 does not provide for the position of an “Acting Mayor,” amid ongoing discussions surrounding council proceedings.
In a response addressing the issue, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr referenced Section 16(3) of the LGA 2022, stating that councillors are only permitted to elect one among themselves to preside over a council meeting in the absence of both the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor. She emphasized that such an arrangement is strictly limited to chairing a meeting and does not equate to the creation or recognition of an Acting Mayor position.
“The LGA 2022 does not provide for an ACTING MAYOR. Per Sect 16(3) councillors can only vote for a councillor to preside over a COUNCIL MEETING in the ABSENCE of the Mayor & Deputy,” she stated.
Her comments come in response to moves by SLPP councillors at the Freetown City Council who have reportedly initiated steps to appoint an acting mayor to oversee city administration during the absence of the substantive mayor, following the political withdrawal of the opposition All People’s Congress from governance activities.
According to SLPP publicity Secretary Moses Mambu, the proposed acting mayor would be presented to both the party and government authorities and would manage council operations until Mayor Aki-Sawyerr resumes full duties.
The development follows the APC’s directive issued in late February 2026, instructing all its elected officials including Members of Parliament, mayors, councillors, and other representatives to withdraw from governance structures. The boycott was triggered by the appointment of Edmond Sylvester Alpha as Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairman of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), which the opposition described as a breach of the Agreement for National Unity signed in October 2023.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr has confirmed her participation in the boycott, stating in a recent interview that while she remains the elected Mayor of Freetown and continues using her official vehicle, her withdrawal from certain government functions forms part of a broader political protest. “My message to Freetonians is that I am working for them,” she said.
The ongoing political standoff has increasingly affected local governance operations, with reports indicating that the boycott has disrupted access to funding for essential services, including waste management. In early March, Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs Tamba Lamina convened an emergency meeting to address financial and operational challenges at the council following the suspension of access to funds, which affected sanitation services in Freetown.
Public concern over the situation continues to grow. A recent opinion poll indicates that 76 percent of Sierra Leoneans view the boycott negatively, while 68 percent believe it is undermining democratic governance.
