FCC Steps In to Collect Six Corpses Left Unattended on Freetown Streets Amid Legal Uncertainty

The Freetown City Council (FCC) has resumed collecting bodies left on the city’s streets after six corpses were reported unattended. Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr said the council is acting in the interest of dignity and public health, while awaiting guidance from the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs (MLGCA) on which authority is responsible for handling such cases.

Under the Local Government Act 2022, FCC does not have a legal mandate to collect corpses. Despite this, the council will temporarily remove bodies from public areas to maintain hygiene and ensure the deceased are treated respectfully.

Mayor Aki-Sawyerr emphasized that the council’s involvement is temporary and will continue only until the government clarifies the responsible authority. FCC has called on the Ministry to provide contact details for reporting similar incidents in the future.

The six corpses left on the streets underscore ongoing challenges faced by city authorities in responding to deaths in public areas. FCC’s intervention ensures that the situation does not pose a risk to public health.