Mayor Aki-Sawyerr Rejects SLPP’s ‘Acting Mayor’ Move, Cites Local Government Act
Freetown Mayor, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has strongly pushed back against the recent decision by SLPP councillors to nominate an acting mayor, arguing that the move lacks legal backing under the Local Government Act 2022.
In a statement shared on her official Facebook page, Aki-Sawyerr maintained that the law does not provide for the position of an “Acting Mayor” under any circumstances.
She clarified that, according to Section 16(3) of the Act, councillors are only permitted to elect one among themselves to preside over a council meeting—and strictly in the absence of both the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor. She stressed that this provision does not equate to the creation or recognition of an acting mayoral role.
The Mayor further questioned the legitimacy of the process, asserting that SLPP councillors do not constitute the required quorum to convene a valid council meeting or take binding decisions.
The development follows tensions within the Freetown City Council, after Aki-Sawyerr reportedly boycotted council proceedings—prompting SLPP councillors to take steps they claim are necessary to ensure continuity in council leadership.
Her response sets the stage for a potential legal and political confrontation over the interpretation of the Local Government Act and the limits of councillors’ authority in the Mayor’s absence.
