Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. A leading African urban research institution has issued a commentary expressing “concern” over the Sierra Leone government’s proposal to divide Freetown into multiple local government areas, arguing that single-tier governance is more efficient and equitable for managing major cities.
The African Centre for Cities (ACC), an interdisciplinary research hub at the University of Cape Town, published its commentary following a public consultation held by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs on September 18, 2025, regarding plans to split Freetown into three cities with three local councils and three mayors.
The ACC, which examined the government’s proposals at the request of Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, concluded that single-tier local governments—where one authority manages an entire city and its suburbs—are empirically proven to be superior to fragmented systems.
The commentary, authored by Associate Professor Warren Smit of the ACC, emphasizes that the benefits of citywide/single-tier local government center on efficiency, clarity, and equitable resource distribution.
Key arguments detailed in the ACC report include:
Improved Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness: A unified council avoids the duplication of costs associated with multiple political structures, senior official salaries, and bureaucracies. It also allows for economies of scale in providing services, particularly for capital-intensive and specialized urban services.
Equitable Resource Allocation: A single council creates a unified financial base, which is crucial for cross-subsidization—redistributing revenue from commercial and high-income areas to provide services in lower-income communities. The ACC noted that the eastern part of Freetown, which has two-thirds of the population, has a lower revenue collection rate and would be directly disadvantaged by a city split.
Enhanced Economic Growth: Fragmentation can negatively impact transportation investment and land use planning, leading to congestion and reduced attractiveness for overall investment. Studies cited by the ACC suggest that single authorities lead to higher per capita GDP and denser development.
Integrated Services and Planning: A single authority can create an integrated plan for urban development, preventing the conflicts and “turf battles” that arise between different authorities. This coordination is essential for managing infrastructure and preventing negative externalities, such as flooding caused by poorly maintained storm drains in neighboring areas.
Stronger Expertise and Accountability: A larger single-tier government can afford a large staff complement with specialized skills necessary to tackle complex urban challenges. Furthermore, having a single service provider enhances accountability for residents and simplifies dealings for investors.
The ACC cited the example of Cape Town, South Africa, which successfully merged 57 different local government bodies into one unified “megacity” authority in 2000, specifically to address issues of inequity and resource reallocation following the fragmentation of the apartheid era.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr stated that the ACC’s commentary provides “empirical and concrete evidence” and urged that the issue “is not politicized but is carefully considered in the best interest of Freetonians, of Freetown and of Sierra Leone.”
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