The Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has strongly opposed reported plans by the government to divide the capital into two cities governed by separate local councils.

In an open letter, the Mayor expressed “grave concern” over the lack of consultation with residents and warned that the move could have serious consequences for service delivery, financial sustainability, and the city’s heritage.

Mayor Aki-Sawyerr highlighted Freetown’s historic and strategic importance, noting its founding in 1792 and its role as a national economic, cultural, and administrative hub. She argued that rather than solving existing urban management issues, the proposed division would compound them, citing ongoing challenges caused by fragmented mandates across government agencies.

She pointed out that key urban management functions such as land use planning, road construction, and water provision are handled by separate entities, making coordination difficult. Splitting the city, she warned, would further complicate implementation of major initiatives like the newly approved Solid and Liquid Waste Collection Byelaws and the upcoming “Operation Dorti Mus Go” campaign.

The Mayor also raised concerns about the financial implications, stressing that revenue collection is uneven across the city, with the western half generating 80% of property rate income despite the east housing two-thirds of the population. She warned that a city split would disadvantage residents in the east and create further financial strain on an already underfunded system, especially as the government has yet to pay 2025 tied grants to Freetown City Council.

While acknowledging the President’s legal authority to declare new localities, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr urged that decisions be based on credible data and topographical realities. Citing the 2021 Mid-Term Census—which reported a sharp decline in Freetown’s population—she questioned the rationale for increasing administrative costs through duplication.

She concluded by appealing to the government to reconsider the plan, emphasizing the need for strengthened integration and greater devolution of functions rather than fragmentation. “Freetown should be left as Freetown,” she asserted.