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A former two-term mayor has raised legal objections to the recent appointment of an acting mayor for the Freetown City Council, warning that the move sets a dangerous precedent for local governance in Sierra Leone.
Layemin Joe Sandi, a former National Public Relations Officer for the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) who served as Mayor for two terms, expressed concern over the decision by SLPP councillors to nominate an acting mayor amid the ongoing boycott by opposition All People’s Congress (APC) officials.
Sandi argued that the Local Government Act 2022 does not create or recognise any office called “Acting Mayor.” He noted that where a mayor is absent, the deputy mayor may perform the functions of the office, which preserves the democratic mandate given directly by the people.
Where both the mayor and deputy mayor are absent, Sandi said the law only allows councillors to choose one among themselves to preside over a meeting, a purely procedural role that does not confer the powers or status of the mayor’s office.
His concerns echo those raised by Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, who has firmly dismissed the appointment as having no legal basis under the Local Government Act 2022 . Aki-Sawyerr has cited Section 16(3) of the Act, which states that councillors may only vote for one of their own to preside over a specific council meeting in the absence of both the mayor and deputy mayor.
The dispute erupted after SLPP councillors nominated Councillor Ibrahim Gbla as acting mayor, citing the need to “restore functional governance” in the capital following the APC’s withdrawal from governance activities. The APC boycott, announced in late February 2026, was triggered by the government’s handling of recommendations from the Cross-Party Tripartite Committee, particularly the appointment of a new Electoral Commission chairman and the proposed adoption of a Proportional Representation electoral system.
Sandi also raised concerns about quorum, noting that council meetings can only lawfully proceed where at least half of councillors are present. He further clarified that while the Ministry of Local Government has oversight responsibilities, the Act does not empower the Minister to appoint or approve an acting mayor.
Where a council becomes unable to function effectively, Sandi noted that intervention may be undertaken by the President only with the approval of two-thirds of Parliament.
“None of this takes away from the underlying issues that have led to the current boycott,” Sandi said, referencing concerns around governance, the drugs crisis and the rising cost of living. “However, the method of response must not undermine the legal framework that holds our local governance system together.”
The standoff has created uncertainty over the administration of Sierra Leone’s capital, raising concerns about service delivery, waste management and other essential municipal functions . A recent opinion poll indicated that 76 percent of Sierra Leoneans view the boycott negatively, while 68 percent believe it is undermining democratic governance.
Sandi called for dialogue without ego, urging political actors to engage in good faith and institutions to resist creating solutions that fall outside the law.
“Local councils are the closest point of service to the people,” he said. “When they are weakened, it is the ordinary citizen who suffers first and most.”
