African Centre For Cities – Commentary On Proposed Plans To Divide Freetown

October 4, 2025

4/10/2025

On Thursday 18th September 2025, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs held a public consultation on the proposed plans to divide Freetown into three cities with three local councils and three mayors. The reasons for the proposed division were listed in the presentation made by the Ministry.

Given the far reaching and long lasting implications of this proposed action on the lives of Freetonians, and on the future of our historic city, it is imperative that the reasons proffered by the Ministry are carefully considered on the basis of empirical evidence and academic research.

I therefore shared the Ministry’s presentation with the African Centre for Cities, an interdisciplinary hub at the University of Cape Town with a mandate to conduct meaningful research on how to understand, recast and address pressing urban crises (https://www.africancentreforcities.net).

Please see attached a commentary authored by Associate Professor Warren Smit of the African Centre for Cities. The commentary provides empirical and concrete evidence that single-tier local governments that are responsible for an entire city are more efficient and equitable than fragmented local government systems in which cities are divided between multiple local government authorities. Associate Professor Smit’s commentary also provides a direct response to each of the reasons for the proposed division of Freetown that is listed in the Ministry’s presentation.

It is imperative that an issue of such importance, involving our capital city, is not politicized but is carefully considered in the best interest of Freetonians, of Freetown and of Sierra Leone.