Amidst ongoing boycott in governance by the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC), the Executive Director, Accountability Now- Sierra Leone, William Sao Lamin has threatened that civil society activists will protest should both the APC and the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) go on with proposed protests and counter protests.

Lamin made this statement at the government’s weekly press briefing on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 held at the Miatta Conference Center in Freetown while he was speaking on the topic: “How governance boycott by councilors undermines service delivery.”

After traveling across various parts of the country, he explained the “negative consequences” of the ongoing boycott in governance by the opposition party, saying that services have been stalled. During his visit to the provinces, Lamin said that citizens expressed the numerous challenges faced to get services at councils. The boycott he believed would also lead to corruption.
He went on to condemn what he described as loyalty to political parties rather than the country. “All we are saying is to put the country first. If there is a problem with the central government, it can be ironed out through engagement,” he stated.

A lot of problems he emphasised are happening during the ongoing boycott with the APC, saying “it is about our people.”

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Speaking at the press conference, the Director, Decentralization Secretariat, Alex Bhonapha recalled that the APC had threatened to boycott governance. The withdrawal from governance Bhonapha said has to some degree staled service delivery in some institutions.

He however went on to assure that despite the stalemate, the council continues to deliver services that should be provided, citing Section 3(1) of the Local Council Act of 2022 which requires the council to deliver on its mandate even in the absence of politicians “The absence of politicians should not affect the operations of councils because the council is a legal person and that citizens should know that they have right to take councils to court if they fail to provide services,” he said.

He also believed that councilors and mayors should not go unpunished for failing to provide services to the public.

Also speaking at the press briefing, the Minister of Social Welfare, Melrose Karminty highlighted the significance of national conversation, noting religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Religious leaders, Karminty said, have the biggest responsibility for preaching peace and reflected on a communique that was signed last week by the council of religious leaders on peace building.

She further urged religious leaders to go out to their members to raise awareness for peace and national cohesion.

It could be recalled that the APC had sometimes in March 2026 declared to boycott governance after expressing dissatisfaction over the appointment of the Electoral Commissioner Edmond Alpha to superintend the 2028 general elections. The opposition party also expressed concerns over failure of the government to implement the tripartite recommendations, of which according to them, only eight have been implemented out of the 80.