By: Aminata Sesay
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Sierra Leone’s Parliament has intensified national efforts to strengthen local governance financing following the adoption of the “Freetown Resolutions 2025” at a National Dialogue on own-source revenue mobilisation for Local Councils and Chiefdom Authorities.
The one-day dialogue, held on Monday, 8 December 2025, at the Freetown City Council Auditorium, brought together more than 300 participants from Local Councils, Chiefdom Authorities, central government institutions, civil society, and development partners. At the end of deliberations, stakeholders unanimously endorsed seven resolutions aimed at transforming how councils and chiefdoms generate, manage, and utilise locally raised revenue to support sustainable development.
Chaired by PAC Chairman and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, the engagement focused on strengthening fiscal decentralisation and addressing long-standing challenges affecting revenue collection at the sub-national level. Participants explored practical strategies for improving coordination between Local Councils and Chiefdom Authorities, while examining reforms to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in revenue mobilisation.
Representatives from the Ministry of Finance welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and aligned with the government’s decentralisation agenda. Sallieu Kamara, Assistant Director in the Fiscal Decentralisation Division, noted that continuous stakeholder engagement is essential for improving revenue performance and enabling councils to finance local services and development priorities more effectively.
Discussions also highlighted persistent operational and structural challenges faced by Local Councils, including weak enforcement mechanisms, capacity gaps, and limited resources. Madam Lydia S. Kargbo, Acting Director of the Public Financial Management Reform Department, described the Dialogue as a potential turning point, emphasising that collective action and reform are critical to strengthening councils’ revenue bases.
Traditional leaders stressed the importance of recognising the historical and ongoing role of chiefdoms in local revenue generation. Hon. PC Sheku Tejan Fasuluku Sonsiama III, Chairman of the National Council for Paramount Chiefs, cited challenges such as low remuneration and inadequate logistical support, while reaffirming chiefdoms’ commitment to contributing to local development.
Local government leaders called for modernisation and stronger accountability measures. Dr. M.M.B. Sisay, Chairperson of Bombali District Council, urged the adoption of digital revenue systems, expansion of local tax bases, and sustained capacity-building for council staff, noting that improved compliance and enforcement would significantly boost domestic revenue mobilisation. Similar perspectives were shared by Kweku Lisk, Deputy Mayor of Freetown City Council, who highlighted practical municipal-level reforms.
In his keynote address, Hon. Conteh emphasised the need to bridge institutional gaps between Local Councils and Chiefdom Authorities, describing both as central pillars in Sierra Leone’s revenue ecosystem. He announced that the PAC would extend similar engagements to councils across the provinces as part of its oversight and reform advocacy mandate.
He further urged development partners, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to support innovative and technology-driven approaches to revenue mobilisation, stressing that collaboration remains key to modernising council operations.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, Opposition Whip, who encouraged stakeholders to move beyond discussion and implement the adopted resolutions to strengthen revenue generation and accelerate local development. The Dialogue was moderated by Sheku Lamin Turay, Director of Parliamentary and Public Relations, who also provided historical context on the evolution of Local Councils in Sierra Leone.