Freetown to Be Administered Through Three Localities Under Redistricting Plan, Minister Says

The disclosure was made by the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Tamba Lamina, on the third day of the Salone Civic Festival held at the Miatta Civic Centre. The minister said the proposed changes are aimed at improving governance and service delivery, and not at dividing or downgrading the capital city, as has been widely speculated.
According to Minister Lamina, the Western Urban District, which encompasses Freetown, will be reorganized into three administrative localities East, Central, and West. He explained that the current structure has placed significant administrative and financial pressure on the Freetown City Council, citing challenges such as limited revenue capacity, the complexity of managing the capital city, and longstanding disparities in service delivery across different parts of the city.
The minister stressed that the new arrangement is intended to bring governance closer to residents and improve efficiency in local administration. He noted that similar administrative models already exist in other parts of the country, including Port Loko, Bombali, and Kenema districts, which operate multiple councils while retaining their original district boundaries.