By Algassimu Monorma Bah
Freetown, 27th March 2026- It is puzzling to watch the elected mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, engage in a public contest over who “fits the robe best,” particularly when the comparison involves someone who never actually wore the official robe and whose image appears to have been digitally altered.
More troubling, however, is the repeated insistence by the mayor and some of her supporters on reminding the public that she is the duly elected mayor of Freetown. A point that has never truly been in dispute. No credible individual has claimed to be the mayor, and no formal process has challenged her mandate.
So why the constant need to prove what no one is contesting?
Leadership is not demonstrated through symbolism, staged imagery, or online theatrics. It is demonstrated through presence, responsibility, and service. The residents of Freetown did not elect a mayor to participate in symbolic battles over robes or titles. They elected a mayor to manage the city, address its sanitation challenges, improve urban services, and provide steady leadership.
Having lived in the United States for more than two decades (I know you’ll say but Salone is not America), I have observed how local governance functions even during periods of intense political disagreement at the national level. In all those years, I have never seen a city mayor refuse to go to work or suspend municipal duties simply because their political party disagreed with the federal government over any other national political dispute.
What I have seen, however, are instances where city workers organize strikes or work stoppages to demand higher wages, improved working conditions, or better incentives for their labor. Those are labor disputes rooted in employment conditions—not elected officials stepping away from their responsibilities because of broader political disagreements.
Local governance should never become collateral damage in national political conflicts.
At a time when Freetown faces serious urban challenges that require leadership and attention, the continued absence of the APC mayor and councilors from their duties raises legitimate concerns. Public office is not a costume to be worn for photographs or defended through rhetoric. It is a responsibility to serve.
The mayor’s mandate is secure, and we all know that, so the most convincing proof would be simple: return to work, serve the people of Freetown, and allow performance—not symbolism—to speak.
Freetown deserves leadership that prioritizes service, dignity, and responsibility over political theatrics.
#backtowork
