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In response to the escalating tensions on Abacha Street, Freetown, Mayor-Elect Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr expressed her concern about the unfortunate events that took place on Thursday, July 27th.
Although currently out of the country, she clarified that an audio circulating on social media, attributing words about the removal of Abacha Street traders to her, is false.
According to the Mayor, in her absence, the Deputy Mayor-Elect took charge and engaged relevant authorities to support the release of the arrested traders.
“I am currently out of the country but as Mayor-Elect, I was deeply concerned about the unfortunate events of Thursday 27th July. In my absence, the Deputy Mayor-Elect engaged relevant authorities and supported the release of arrested traders,” she stated on her social media page.
The clash between the Abacha Street Traders and the Freetown City Council Police emerged when the council requested the traders to stop selling on the street and relocate to a designated area. However, the traders, relying on street sales to sustain their families, demanded a suitable alternative location for their business.
The situation became more complicated when plans to allocate the newly constructed Victoria Park Market to the traders fell through, as it was designated for non-traders. This left the traders with no choice but to continue their business activities on Abacha Street.
Stepping in to address the escalating situation, the newly appointed Minister of Trade, Ibrahim Alpha Sesay, known as ‘TEX,’ organized a crucial meeting at the Office of National Security (ONS) Tower Hill. The meeting involved high-ranking officials, AIG Brima Jah and AIG Sylvester Koroma, as well as representatives from the Trader Union and Traders’ Council, along with members of the Market Women & Traders’ Union.
During the meeting, participants engaged in detailed discussions to find viable and lasting solutions to the street trading issue, with a primary focus on identifying a suitable market location, especially considering the ongoing construction of the Sewa Ground Market.
Despite efforts to mediate and find a resolution, tensions flared up again when the traders clashed with the FCC Police, who urged them to move back to ensure smooth traffic flow along Abacha Street. The situation remains challenging, and further measures are being explored to address the concerns of both the traders and the city council.
Don’t allow them to come back to the street
Let them stop selling in the street,it’s very wrong to do so,, please commonals let us respect ourselves..
Abdulai Barrie nr you papa ein compound den fr go sell or nr u mama ein yard den for go sell, wae u dae open you mot dae tok say mek den nor for allow dem fr cam sell nr street again ,even London den dae sell nr street wae den call east street una den alakie machidor den wae don claim citizen nr salone
The fact is that, they too are not happy to be selling on the street just like that.Maybe they have found out that selling there makes them get fast money and in doing that,they be able to take care of various domestic challenges.To remove them from such place,the Government need to settle well as too are sierra leonean’s just to avoid confusion and bad reputation of the country.Because anything that happened in sierraleone will be notified all over the world and not just sierraleone.WISDOM.COM
Abdulai Barrie if everything is ok for say Alhamdulillah! Some of the people’s trading at Abacha Street are the bread 🍞 winners of their family. If government want to relocate them, he should find a very suitable place for them. Imagine they are more than 1000 thousand people that are presently trading in Abacha Street, so imagine if they just remove them like that how will you feel if you where in the same scene with them. By brother I want you to think wisely before saying in word please.