Lawyers’ Society Opposes Plans to Split Freetown and Western Area into Multiple Localities
The Lawyers’ Society of Sierra Leone has formally voiced its opposition to government plans to divide the Western Area into multiple new localities, warning that the move risks worsening existing governance and financial challenges.
In an open letter to the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, the Society said it was “deeply concerned” about proposals to establish two localities in Freetown and three in the Western Area Rural district.
The letter followed a public consultation held last week at the Freetown City Council Auditorium. Representatives of the Society said they were unable to raise their views during the event’s Question-and-Answer session, prompting them to issue a formal response.
At the heart of their opposition is the claim that government officials failed to present data to justify the restructuring. Citing the Local Government Act of 2022, the Society reminded the ministry that any presidential declaration of new localities must be based on recommendations from the Minister of Finance and the Electoral Commission, taking into account population density and financial sustainability.
“No financial data was presented to justify this approach, especially given the delays in government subventions which are already crippling local administrations,” the letter stated.
The lawyers also argued that dividing the Western Area now would be premature, noting that a national household and demographic survey is only scheduled for 2026. Without updated census data, they warned, the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone would not have the basis to support such a move.
The government has defended its proposal by suggesting that more localities could enhance service delivery. But the Society countered that existing wards within councils already provide direct representation, and creating additional localities would likely “duplicate functions without improving governance outcomes.”
Instead, the lawyers urged the government to focus on fully devolving powers to councils and ensuring timely disbursement of funds. “It remains our view that inefficiencies in Freetown’s governance stem from incomplete devolution and delays in budgetary support, not the council structure itself,” they wrote.
The Society further cautioned that breaking up the capital into more administrative units could stretch Sierra Leone’s limited governance capacity at a time when the country faces economic uncertainty linked to global trade and domestic mining disruptions.
Concluding their letter, the group appealed to the government to adopt “evidence-based policymaking” and prioritize economic stability over costly reforms that lack clear justification.
The Ministry of Local Government has yet to publicly respond to the Society’s concerns.
