Lawyers’ Society Warns Against Proposed Split of Western Area

The Sierra Leone Lawyers’ Society has raised strong objections to government plans to subdivide the Western Area into multiple new administrative units, cautioning that the move could exacerbate existing governance and financial challenges.

In an open letter addressed to the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, the Society expressed “deep concern” over the proposal to create two new localities in Freetown and three in the Western Area Rural District.

The statement comes after a public consultation at the Freetown City Council Auditorium last week, during which Society representatives said they were unable to voice their concerns during the event’s Question-and-Answer session, prompting the formal written response.

Central to the Society’s opposition is the absence of supporting data. Referencing the Local Government Act of 2022, they emphasized that any creation of new localities should be grounded in recommendations from the Minister of Finance and the Electoral Commission, taking population density and fiscal sustainability into account.

“No financial analysis has been presented to justify this plan, particularly at a time when delays in government subventions are already straining local administrations,” the letter warned.

The lawyers also argued that moving forward with the plan is premature, as the national household and demographic survey is scheduled for 2026. Without current census data, they cautioned, the Electoral Commission would lack the necessary basis to implement the changes.

While government officials have suggested that more localities could improve service delivery, the Lawyers’ Society contended that existing wards already provide direct representation, and that creating additional administrative units could lead to redundant functions without meaningful gains in governance.

The group recommended that government efforts instead focus on fully devolving powers to councils and ensuring timely funding for local administrations. “The root of inefficiencies in Freetown’s governance lies in incomplete devolution and delayed financial support, not the structure of the councils themselves,” the letter stated.

Highlighting broader economic concerns, the Society warned that adding administrative units could strain Sierra Leone’s limited governance capacity amid global trade uncertainties and disruptions in the domestic mining sector.

The letter concluded with a call for “evidence-based policymaking,” urging the government to prioritize fiscal responsibility and stability over costly reforms lacking proper justification.