Government Explains Rationale Behind Creation of Freetown West City Council
The Government of Sierra Leone says the creation of Freetown West City Council is intended to bring local administration and public services closer to residents amid continuing debate over the restructuring of the capital.
Information Minister Chernor Bah said the new council is part of efforts to decentralize governance and make it easier for local authorities to respond to community needs.
The government formally established Freetown City Council and Freetown West City Council through separate statutory instruments published in the September 16, 2026, Extraordinary Gazette.
Bah said the restructuring does not create a separate identity for Freetown. Instead, he said, it provides a more localized system for delivering services and addressing community priorities.
He argued that smaller councils could allow councillors, ward committees and council leadership to focus more closely on local concerns. They could also create opportunities to mobilize revenue and direct resources towards specific community needs.
However, the potential economic benefits have yet to be demonstrated. The new councils could also require additional staff, administrative structures and funding. The government maintains that the wider restructuring is aimed at improving local governance, service delivery and revenue mobilization.
The move has faced opposition from Freetown City Council, which has warned that dividing the capital could fragment existing systems and affect coordinated service delivery.
Legal concerns have also been raised. The Lawyers’ Society of Sierra Leone has called for the withdrawal of the statutory instruments establishing the two councils, arguing that required consultation and parliamentary procedures may not have been properly followed.
While the gazetting establishes the two councils, implementation will still require decisions on boundaries, staffing, financing and other operational arrangements.
The central question now is whether the new structure can bring decision-making and services closer to residents without increasing administrative costs or weakening citywide coordination.