The Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs has successfully concluded the first phase of nationwide stakeholder consultations on the government’s proposed redistricting plan, culminating in a high-level engagement at the Bo District Council Hall on July 2, 2025.
The series of engagements, which commenced on June 23, 2025, in Kailahun Town, covered key locations including Kpeje West Chiefdom, Golahun Tunkia Chiefdom, Kenema District Council Hall, Pujehun District, Portoru, and concluded in Bo District. The consultations brought together senior officials from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) — including the Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, and Statistics Sierra Leone — alongside Members of Parliament, District Council Chairpersons, Paramount Chiefs, women’s leaders, and other community stakeholders.
Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Ambassador Tamba Lamina, who led the nationwide tour, emphasized government’s constitutional mandate to take critical decisions that enhance accountability and improve service delivery. He underscored that the redistricting process is a key pillar of President Julius Maada Bio’s commitment to strengthening local governance and decentralization.
“Governments come and go, but one of the fundamental responsibilities of every administration is to ensure that service delivery reaches every citizen,” Minister Lamina said. “Through this redistricting, we aim to bring local councils closer to the people, enabling communities to set their own development priorities.”
He further noted that improved access to healthcare, education, security, and emergency services are among the expected benefits of a more effective decentralization structure. The Minister clarified that the engagements are designed not only to explain government’s proposals but also to gather public feedback that will shape the final recommendations.
Responding to concerns about data reliability, Minister Lamina assured stakeholders that the most recent population census figures remain credible and are guiding the redistricting process. “Government is a continuum. Even the previous administration acknowledged the need for new districts and localities,” he stated.
Drawing from regional examples, the Minister explained that multiple local councils within cities are common across Africa, designed to improve governance and service delivery, not to create division. “This process isn’t about building walls — it’s about opening doors to better governance,” he added.
Minister Lamina also addressed the government’s de-amalgamation strategy, part of what he described as a “bumper Government Implementation Plan.” He highlighted those certain chiefdoms, such as Valunia, have long experienced strained relations due to forced amalgamations and are now being considered for de-amalgamation to enhance peace and administrative effectiveness.
At the Bo District engagement, Honourable J.W. Lamin praised the Ministry for its inclusive and transparent approach. He noted that the comprehensive stakeholder consultations are a significant departure from previous government projects that lacked local input, often with disastrous consequences.
Citing the Bo-Liberian Highway as an example, Hon. Lamin lamented that the absence of proper consultations in past infrastructure projects has led to severe accidents, resulting in the loss of over 86 lives.
He further commended President Bio for prioritizing these engagements, stating that the initiative is crucial for improving service delivery and creating opportunities for underserved communities nationwide. “Parliament stands ready to adopt the proposed districts and localities once all necessary consultations are completed,” he affirmed.
The Deputy Statistician General of Statistics Sierra Leone assured participants of the agency’s readiness to provide accurate demographic and geographic data for the exercise. He stressed the constitutional authority of the President to create new districts and noted that Statistics Sierra Leone is already conducting mapping exercises in pilot areas such as Kailahun and Kissi Teng to ensure nationwide accuracy.
Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Alusine Ayoub Joaque, and John Brima, Capacity Building Manager at the Decentralization Secretariat, chaired the district-level engagements. The Director of the Decentralization Secretariat, Alex Bonapha, and the Director of Local Government, Brima Newman Combey, also played key roles in articulating the strategic objectives of the redistricting initiative.
Closing all the engagements, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Alfred Moi Jamiru, reaffirmed government’s firm commitment to the process, assuring citizens that their views will be reflected in the final recommendations.
The successful completion of this first phase marks a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s decentralization agenda, as the government moves toward more inclusive and accessible local governance structures.
