By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Mayor of Freetown, Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, OBE, has openly challenged the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs over what she described as an “unfair and politically motivated transfer directive” that targets key administrative and professional staff of the Freetown City Council (FCC).
Speaking at a well-attended Press Conference held on Monday 10th November, 2025 at the Freetown City Hall on Wallace Johnson Street, the Mayor expressed deep concern about the Ministry’s recent decision to order mass transfers of staff across local councils nationwide including the sudden removal of experienced personnel from the FCC. She described the directive as “ill-timed, disruptive and detrimental to effective service delivery.”
According to Mayor Aki-Sawyerr, the transfers come at a critical time when the council is finalizing its 2025 budget, transitioning to a new financial management system and rolling out key urban development projects under the “Transform Freetown” initiative. She argued that such drastic changes in the council’s human resource structure could delay project implementation and weaken accountability mechanisms.
“We recognize the authority of the Local Government Service Commission to conduct lawful staff transfers,” the Mayor said. “However, the timing, scope and manner of this directive raise serious questions about intent. It appears to be a calculated effort to destabilize the Freetown City Council at a time when we are delivering essential services to residents.”
The Mayor also commented on the Chief Administrator of the Freetown City Council, accusing him of “consistent non-cooperation and administrative sabotage.” She claimed that his unilateral decisions, including delays in approving payments and failure to properly coordinate council departments, have undermined the council’s financial performance.
“The Chief Administrator’s conduct has not only breached established procedures but has also significantly affected our ability to meet revenue targets and ensure transparency,” she said. “We cannot continue to function effectively under a system where politics overrides professionalism.”
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr concluded her statement by reaffirming her administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and community-driven development. She urged the Government to uphold the spirit of decentralization enshrined in the Local Government Act of 2004, which empowers councils to operate independently in the interest of their constituents.
“My loyalty remains with the people of Freetown,” she said firmly. “We will continue to serve our residents with integrity and ensure that no political interference derails the progress we have made together.”
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr emphasized that while the FCC is not opposed to staff transfers, such actions must adhere to established due process. She referred to the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs’ Press Release dated November 4, 2025, titled: “Minister of Local Government directs implementation of Council Staff Transfers, urges end to stagnation,” clarifying that the Council strongly objects to the transfer of its Finance Officer.
According to the Mayor, the proposed transfer is ill-timed, coming at a critical period when the Council is finalizing its 2026 budget and simultaneously serving as the only Local Council piloting the complex Public Financial Management (PFM) Smart System. She further disclosed that tensions have persisted between the Council’s elected officials and the Chief Administrator, Raman Tom Farmar, citing his lack of cooperation. The Mayor confirmed that she had officially written to the Local Government Service Commission requesting his transfer.
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr also lamented the financial constraints facing the Council, revealing that since the start of 2025, the Government has only released the final quarter of the 2024 allocation to Local Councils. This, she said, has significantly hampered service delivery and ongoing development initiatives.
Meanwhile, several councillors present at the event voiced similar frustrations, including Councilor Zainab Conteh, who raised serious concerns about what she described as sustained intimidation and victimization in her official capacity as Chief Councilor, a position to which she was unanimously elected by her fellow councilors.
According to Chief Councilor Zainab Conteh, during a recent official meeting at the Freetown City Council, the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs arrived with an entourage and questioned her authority to act in the capacity of Mayor, asking whether she was “not afraid” to do so and to use the title Chief Councilor. She described the remark as “deeply disrespectful and intimidating,” particularly as it was made in the presence of several male officials.
Chief Councilor Zainab Conteh also cited remarks made by the Chief Administrator (CA) of the Council on Radio Democracy 98.1 FM, where he reportedly described her as “ignorant” and “without understanding of council matters.” She said this public denigration, along with the Minister’s earlier comments, reflects “a troubling pattern of institutional intimidation and gender undermining.”
Further, she revealed that a letter from the Chief Administrator to the Mayor has formally challenged the legitimacy of her position as Chief Councilor and Acting Mayor; a role she said was established through a council vote. The Minister, according to her, has since written to the Mayor requesting a response to the CA’s complaint, which she believes “effectively sides with the administrative authority over the collective will of the council.”
Chief Councilor Zainab Conteh emphasized that her position is not unique to Freetown but a recognized administrative practice within other local councils, including Kenema City Council and the Western Area Rural District Council (WARD-C).
“This repeated singling out and public questioning of my authority as a woman in leadership is not only an act of political intimidation but also a direct affront to the principles of gender equity and women’s political participation,” she said.
She appealed for solidarity and institutional support from women’s organizations, governance advocates and political actors to ensure that no woman in elected office faces “intimidation, ridicule or administrative obstruction” for performing her duties.
Chief Councilor Zainab Conteh reaffirmed her commitment to serve the people of Freetown “with integrity and diligence,” adding that the struggle for women’s equal participation in governance “must remain a shared national priority.”
