By Marion (Rion) Bangura
Months after the official inauguration of the $20 million Sewa Grounds Market by President Julius Maada Bio, the market remains shuttered, leaving traders and residents frustrated over the delay in what was intended to be a major solution to street congestion in central Freetown. The long-awaited facility, constructed to modernize urban trading and provide safe, organized spaces for vendors, has yet to open its doors to the public, despite traders submitting applications months ago.
Petty traders from Rawdon Street, Howe Street, Garrison Street, and Charlotte Street report ongoing uncertainty about when they will be able to occupy the market. Some paid small registration fees ranging from Le50 to Le100 while others claim the management company has demanded as much as Le6,000 to secure a shop, a sum far beyond the daily operating capital of most street vendors.
Patrick Foray, a trader from Howe Street, expressed frustration over the lack of communication. “I submitted two applications, but I have not received a single update,” he said. “These fees are not affordable. We work on tight margins, buying goods in the morning and paying suppliers the same day. Meanwhile, we remain vulnerable to fines and harassment from the Freetown City Council Metropolitan Unit, who sometimes demand money to return confiscated goods.”
Another trader, Allieu Sesay of Rawdon Street, confirmed that he submitted all necessary documents including photographs and identification and even received a number corresponding to a designated section in the market. Yet he, like many others, is still waiting for a formal announcement on when the market will become operational. “We hope the market can finally provide the relief we were promised,” Sesay said, noting that street trading exposes goods to damage from vehicles, pedestrians, and motorcycles.
The Sewa Grounds Market, handed over to the Sierra Estate Management Company by the National Social Security and Insurance Trust, was intended as a modern hub to organize trade, ease congestion, and provide safer conditions for traders. The $20 million project has been lauded as a landmark public investment aimed at improving urban commerce, yet months after completion, the management company has issued only vague statements, claiming applications are still being processed without providing any timeline for opening.
For many traders and observers, the inactivity raises questions about accountability, transparency, and the efficient use of public funds. Street vendors, who were meant to benefit from the market, remain exposed to fines, harassment, and daily financial losses. “We were promised relief, but the doors remain closed,” one frustrated trader said.
As the city awaits clarity, the fate of Sewa Grounds Market has become a pressing concern. Citizens and traders alike are calling for urgent action and transparency from the management company to ensure that the $20 million investment finally fulfills its intended purpose of easing street congestion and providing sustainable livelihoods for Freetown’s traders.
