By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Tension has emerged at the Freetown City Council following allegations by councillors that the Chief Administrator, Ramah Tom Farmer, has been undermining the authority of the council and obstructing its operations.
The allegations were made during a press conference held at the Freetown City Council Hall, where several councillors expressed concern over what they described as repeated violations of the Local Government Act and interference with council activities.
Opening the press conference, Councillor Hakimatu M. Caulker said councillors felt it was necessary to inform the public about the internal challenges facing the council. She stated that the authority of elected councillors is being weakened, making it difficult for them to effectively serve the people of Freetown who voted them into office.
Councillor Unisa Kamara accused the Chief Administrator of failing to follow due process as outlined in the Local Government Act. He said policy decisions are the responsibility of the council, while the Chief Administrator’s role is limited to financial oversight. Kamara alleged that documents are delayed or withheld even after being signed by the Mayor, a situation he described as misconduct.
The councillors further claimed that several development projects have stalled due to delays in approvals. They cited environmental initiatives, including tree planting and urban greening programs, which they said were affected by withheld documents, risking donor support and project timelines.
Councillor Bompa Turay raised concerns over a low bed vehicle donated to the council by the Japanese government. He said a review revealed the council was spending large sums on hired services despite owning such equipment. According to him, the vehicle could not be accounted for, and the matter was reported to the Criminal Investigations Department.
Chief Councillor Zainab Conteh referenced the Local Government Act, stating that the Mayor and councillors are the political heads of the council. She accused central government institutions of empowering the Chief Administrator beyond his legal mandate. Conteh warned that continued withholding of resources could affect key services, including street cleaning.
She also raised security concerns, alleging that the Chief Administrator moves with armed personnel, which she said has made councillors feel unsafe. Conteh concluded that the council may consider passing a resolution if the situation does not improve.
The councillors said the ongoing challenges risk undermining the will of the people of Freetown, who elected them to represent their interests and deliver services to the city.
