Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Mayor Yvonne Aki Sawyerr of Freetown has issued a strong warning against the proposed plan to divide Freetown into two local councils, citing serious concerns over the implications for the city’s waste management system and financial sustainability.
In an open letter to the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Ambassador Tamba Lamina, the Mayor emphasized that the proposed split would undermine significant progress made in establishing a citywide waste collection system under the recently enacted Waste Collection Byelaws.
The current waste collection framework divides Freetown’s 48 wards into eight blocks, enabling structured door-to-door services. Following a competitive bidding process aligned with NPPA regulations, contracts have been awarded to private waste management firms.
This effort is soon to be launched through a major campaign titled “Operation Dorti Mus Go.” According to the Mayor, this initiative is now under threat, as dividing the city risks creating administrative and operational chaos that would reverse these advancements.
On financial matters, the Mayor reiterated the provisions of the Local Government Act 2022, which states that councils are to be funded through their own-source revenue, government grants, and delegated service transfers. Freetown has significantly improved its internal revenue generation, increasing the number of properties on its tax roll from 37,000 in 2018 to over 120,000 in 2024, thanks to the Moptax digital system. However, the Mayor highlighted stark disparities in revenue collection: while the western wards contribute 80% of property rate income, the eastern wards with two-thirds of the city’s population only contribute 20%, reflecting lower compliance and revenue per capita.
“This imbalance means residents in the east will suffer most if the city is split,” the Mayor warned, noting that no tied grant payments from the central government have yet been made in 2025, further compounding the city’s fiscal strain.
The Mayor concluded that a division of Freetown would not only fragment governance but also place “unnecessary pressure on an already stretched government budget,” calling for a reconsideration of the proposed move.
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