By Foday Moriba Conteh
A new public opinion poll conducted by the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR) has revealed that a majority of Freetown residents are unaware of and largely oppose the Government’s proposal to divide the capital city into multiple local councils. The survey, which also gauged citizens’ views on electricity supply and funeral procession management, provides valuable insights into public perceptions of some of the Government’s most debated urban reform initiatives.
Speaking during a Press Conference held at IGR’s Spur Road office in Freetown, Prof. Fredline M’Cormack-Hale, Research Director at IGR, said the findings offer the first structured feedback from residents on the reforms, which aim to improve traffic congestion, city management and electricity delivery.
According to the poll, which surveyed 1,072 adult residents between October 9th and 12th, 2025, only 32% of Freetonians have heard of the proposal to split the city, and among those, a significant 62% disagree or strongly disagree with the idea. When asked about governance preferences, 57% said they prefer to keep the Freetown City Council undivided, while 30% support smaller councils under FCC supervision and only 13% favor complete decentralization.
On electricity, the results were more positive. 76% of residents reported that power supply had improved compared to a year ago, particularly in the city’s west end. However, challenges persist: 90% of respondents cited high tariffs as their biggest concern, followed by low or unstable voltage (67%), power theft (36%) and corruption among utility staff (34%).
The poll also explored views on managing funeral processions in the congested city. Over half (54%) of respondents want the traditional grand send-offs to continue, while 33% favor route or time restrictions to ease traffic. A smaller number called for vehicle-only processions (5%) or a total ban (8%).
The IGR poll provides critical data to guide policymakers as Freetown navigates the balance between urban reform, service delivery and respect for cultural traditions.
