By George M.O. Williams
The Lawyers’ Society has called on the government to withdraw statutory instruments establishing new districts, cities and local councils, arguing that the measures were introduced without evidence of adequate consultation and compliance with parliamentary procedures.
In a press release dated October 1, 2026, the Society expressed concern over Government Notices 246-277, published as a supplement to the extraordinary Sierra Leone Gazette of September 16, 2026, which seek to create new administrative entities, including cities, councils, districts, chiefdoms and villages.
The Society specifically questioned Statutory Instrument No. 13 (Freetown City Council Establishment Order), No. 15 (Freetown West City Council Establishment Order) and No. 19 (Lungi City Council Establishment Order).
According to the Society, it had previously warned in a June 7, 2025 statement that plans to create Bandajuma and Kpanguma districts, divide Freetown into two local councils, split the Western Rural District into three administrative units and declare Lungi a city could raise legal and governance concerns while risking social fragmentation.
The legal body noted that although Section 2(2)(a) of the Local Government Act 2022 empowers the President to declare districts, towns and cities through statutory instruments, such powers must be exercised in line with constitutional and statutory requirements.
It cited Section 170(7) of the 1991 Constitution and provisions of the Constitutional and Statutory Instruments Act 1999, which require statutory instruments to be laid before Parliament for 21 days before taking effect. The Society also pointed to Standing Order 18(2), which requires a memorandum outlining consultations with relevant stakeholders to accompany such instruments.
The Society argued that a government meeting held on September 18, 2025, and described as a consultation, amounted largely to a presentation and did not provide stakeholders with a meaningful opportunity to influence the proposals.
By contrast, it referenced a Freetown City Council town hall meeting held on June 26, 2025, attended by more than 600 residents and stakeholders, including market women, bike riders, youth groups, civil society organisations and members of the Lawyers’ Society. According to the Society, participants overwhelmingly rejected the proposed division of the capital, a position reflected in Resolution FCC/2026/04.
The Society further noted that the Krio Descendants Yunion (KDY) had also publicly opposed the proposal.
It warned that dividing Freetown into Freetown and Freetown West could weaken the city’s governance structure by duplicating administrative systems, increasing operational costs and creating disparities in institutional and financial capacity between the two councils.
The Society contended that the proposed arrangement could further fragment urban management, undermine the viability of local councils and encourage what it described as the politically motivated creation of districts.
As a result, the Society urged the government to withdraw the statutory instruments relating to Freetown and Lungi and suspend all actions connected to the proposed administrative changes pending broader consultations and an independent socio-economic viability assessment.
It also called on Members of Parliament to reject the instruments, ensure compliance with legal procedures and safeguard what it described as the will of the people.
“The Society remains committed to upholding the rule of law, good governance and democracy,” the statement concluded.