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Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has publicly asserted that the Freetown City Council (FCC) has been deliberately excluded by the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) from the development and operation of the newly commissioned Sewa Grounds Market, despite the council owning the land and holding a 25% stake in the project.
Speaking in a radio interview, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr confirmed that the land for both the Sewa Grounds Market and Victoria Park is legally owned by the Freetown City Council.
The Mayor stated that upon assuming office, she held meetings with NASSIT authorities to discuss collaboration on the progress of the two business ventures. However, she said she was unable to locate updated records for the projects within the council’s files.
Aki-Sawyerr emphasized that she subsequently wrote to NASSIT “several times” requesting project documents, but NASSIT allegedly never made them available.
She further explained that the FCC holds a 25% stake in the projects, yet NASSIT “deliberately ignored the council,” even after multiple written correspondences.
The Mayor went on to state she has no knowledge of the present operations of the Sewa Grounds Market, even while stressing that the FCC is legally invested in the project by virtue of providing the land.
Regarding the market’s official opening ceremony, which was commissioned by President Julius Maada Bio, the Mayor acknowledged receiving an invitation only one day prior.
She explained that the invitation date collided with a public consultation meeting for the division of Freetown, organized by the Local Government and Country Planning Minister. Citing a “scale of preference,” the Mayor chose to prioritize the public consultation over the market’s opening.
Despite her absence, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr confirmed that representatives from the Freetown City Council were present at the opening ceremony.
The recently commissioned market, built using workers’ pension contributions, is a flagship project featuring 1,544 trading spaces, lockup shops, a daycare centre, and 24-hour security.
