By Sallieu S. Kanu
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Amb. Tamba Lamina, has outlined the government’s rationale for redistricting and the establishment of new localities, describing the initiative as a key step towards improving local governance, enhancing service delivery, and promoting balanced national development.
Speaking during the Government’s Weekly Press Briefing at the Miatta Conference Centre on Tuesday, Amb. Lamina said the review of administrative boundaries is necessary to respond to population growth, changing settlement patterns, and increasing demands for public services.
He noted that the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs is responsible for coordinating local councils and supporting community development, stressing that effective governance requires administrative structures that reflect current realities.
According to the Minister, the process of creating new localities and reviewing district boundaries is guided by the Local Government Act of 2004, as amended in 2022, and involves consultations with relevant government institutions to ensure compliance with legal and administrative requirements.
Amb. Lamina explained that factors such as population size, geographical location, administrative capacity, and development needs are carefully considered before any new locality is established. He added that collaboration with institutions responsible for planning, finance, and public administration is critical to ensuring sustainable implementation.
The Minister said properly designed administrative boundaries could improve access to government services, strengthen coordination between communities and local authorities, and enable councils to respond more effectively to the needs of residents.
He further noted that establishing new administrative centres could reduce the burden on citizens who currently travel long distances to access essential government services.
Addressing the development implications, Amb. Lamina stated that new localities could stimulate infrastructure development, improve planning, attract investment, and create opportunities for the expansion of markets and other public facilities.
However, he cautioned that the success of any redistricting initiative would depend on adequate funding, staffing, infrastructure, and clear administrative responsibilities.
The Ministry also emphasized the need for broad stakeholder consultations and careful assessment of existing governance structures to ensure that any changes support national development goals and address the needs of affected communities.
Observers from local governance and decentralisation institutions have welcomed discussions on improving service delivery but stressed the importance of transparency, adequate resource allocation, and community participation throughout the process.
Development stakeholders note that while the creation of new localities has the potential to bring government closer to the people, sustained institutional support and effective implementation mechanisms will be essential to achieving the intended benefits.
Concluding his remarks, Amb. Lamina reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening decentralisation and building responsive local governance systems capable of delivering services more efficiently and promoting inclusive development across Sierra Leone.