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The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, chaired by Deputy Speaker Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has convened a landmark National Dialogue on Own-Source Revenue Mobilisation for Local Councils and Chiefdom Authorities.
The one-day engagement, held at the Freetown City Council Auditorium on Wallace Johnson Street, brought together over 300 participants and culminated in the adoption of Seven Key Resolutions, collectively known as The Freetown Resolutions 2025.
The Dialogue was designed to strengthen the mobilisation, management, and utilisation of own-source revenues to support sustainable development across Sierra Leone’s local jurisdictions.
Representing the Ministry of Finance, Sallieu Kamara, Assistant Director in the Fiscal Decentralisation Division, underscored the importance of continuous stakeholder engagement and affirmed that the discussions directly align with the Ministry’s mandate to advance fiscal decentralisation.
Madam Lydia S. Kargbo, Acting Director of the Public Financial Management Reform Department (PFMRD), acknowledged the challenges faced by Local Councils in revenue mobilisation but expressed confidence that the Dialogue would serve as a turning point in enhancing their capacity.
The Chairman of the National Council for Paramount Chiefs, Hon. PC Sheku Tejan Fasuluku Sonsiama III, reflected on the historical role of Paramount Chiefs in revenue collection and highlighted persistent challenges such as low salaries and limited resources.
Speaking on behalf of Council Chairmen, Dr. M.M.B. Sisay, Chairperson of Bombali District Council, stressed the need for accountability and transparency in local governance. He recommended adopting digitalised revenue systems, expanding the local tax base, and providing continuous capacity-building for council staff. He further noted that effective enforcement of revenue laws would significantly boost domestic revenue growth.
Kweku Lisk, Deputy Mayor of Freetown City Council, presented practical insights into improving revenue mobilisation at the municipal level, while emphasising collaboration between councils and communities.
Delivering the keynote, PAC Chairman and Deputy Speaker Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh reiterated the vital role of chiefdoms in the revenue ecosystem and called for bridging gaps between Local Councils and Chiefdom Authorities. He emphasized the need for a transparent formula for revenue generation and pledged that PAC will continue similar engagements across the provinces.
“We must work together and collaborate to strengthen and modernise the activities of Councils,” Hon. Conteh stated.
He further called on development partners, civil society, and stakeholders to support innovative approaches to increasing councils’ own-source revenue.
The Dialogue sparked robust discussions, with participants offering practical proposals to jointly improve operations. In closing, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, Opposition Whip, delivered the vote of thanks, urging stakeholders to implement the adopted resolutions for enhanced revenue mobilisation and improved service delivery.
The event was moderated by Sheku Lamin Turay, Director of the Parliamentary and Public Relations Department, who also provided an overview of the historical development of Local Councils in Sierra Leone.
