Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Freetown City Council (FCC) publicly denounced what it calls a pattern of interference and intimidation by the national government, alleging that these actions are crippling the council’s operations.
At a press conference on Monday, November 10, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE led a united front of senior council officials to voice their grievances, which include unauthorized staff transfers, severe funding delays, and a breakdown in working relationships.
The conflict centers on a directive from the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs to transfer the Council’s Finance Officer. While the FCC states it does not oppose staff transfers in principle, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr described this specific move as “ill-timed.”
She explained the Council is currently finalizing its 2026 budget and is the only local council piloting the complex Public Financial Management (PFM) Smart System.
“The Council strongly objects to the transfer of its Finance Officer,” Aki-Sawyerr stated, directly countering the Ministry’s press release from November 4th.
Deputy Mayor Kweku Lisk Esq. reinforced the legal objection, emphasizing that staff matters legally fall under the jurisdiction of the independent Local Government Service Commission, not the Ministry. He accused the Ministry of “overstepping its mandate” and “usurping the functions” of the Commission.
The staffing dispute is compounded by a severe financial crunch. Mayor Aki-Sawyerr revealed that since the start of the year, the national government has only disbursed the final quarter of the 2024 allocations to local councils, creating a significant funding gap.
Tensions were further highlighted by accounts of a strained working relationship with the central government-appointed Chief Administrator, Raman Tom Farmar. The Mayor stated she has written to the Local Government Service Commission calling for his transfer due to his “lack of cooperation with the Council’s elected officials.”
Adding to the allegations, Chief Councillor Zainab Conteh recounted instances of “intimidation and bullying” by both the Chief Administrator and the Minister of Local Government.
The press conference signals a significant escalation in the ongoing power struggle between Freetown’s elected council and the national government, raising questions about the autonomy of local authorities.
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