District Council Hall, Kenema District, 5th July 2021– The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development has commenced a week-long consultative engagement with key beneficiaries for the construction of ultra-modern markets for trading in Bombali, Kenema and Bo Districts respectively.
The markets would cater for critical amenities such as water and sanitation facilities, storage facilities, parking spaces for vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles, a police post, offices for driver’s union, trader’s union and the road safety authority within the structure to ensure its full use by the target beneficiaries.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman, Kenema District Council, Mohamed O’Level Sesay expressed his appreciation to the New Direction government for the initiative; noting that the process of engaging the people during the initial stages of the project was a step in the right direction.
He said that the implementation of the project would address street trading, which has over the years increased rapidly in most towns and cities in the country, particularly Kenema District.
Paramount Chief Mohamed Dhaffie Benya V, in his address, said the project was a timely opportunity for the Kenema people to benefit from, especially the traders. He said, as Chiefs, they would ensure a suitable location for the construction of the market would be provided as soon as possible.
The Traders Union Secretary, Alpha Lamin, noted his delight at the construction of the market, saying that the project was a demonstration of the Government’s efforts to improving the welfare of its citizens, particularly the traders. Mr. Lamin called on the authorities to also identify the demarcation of the categories of items sold in the market for ease of use.
Alpha Bangura, Director of Public Investment Management Directorate, MoPED, in his presentation noted that the proposed market would be constructed in communities where access to good roads and means of transportation of goods to big cities pose some challenge. Mr. Bangura said the process would ensure that community stakeholders were involved in the entire process from the conception to the implementation phase.
He called on Kenema authorities to work with all stakeholders involved to achieve the desired goal.
Deputy Minister of Works and Public Assets, Philip Tetema Tondoneh, said government was committed to change the livelihood of the people, especially the traders in Kenema. He noted that the “PAOPA Government” of President Bio would continue to do all it could to alleviate poverty in the country, which demonstrated the President’s vision of achieving Human Capital Development.
In his address, the Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Titus-Williams said one of the greatest concerns of the New Direction government of His Excellency Rtd Brig. Dr. Julius Maada Bio was to provide infrastructure for its citizens, which has culminated into the need to provide modern markets infrastructure for the people of the country.
Dr. Titus-Williams said this move by government was to begin the transformation process of improving the condition of traders in the country and to minimize street trading. He said that the plan charts a clear path towards 2023 en route to the goal of achieving middle-income status by 2030 through inclusive growth that was sustainable and leaving no one behind.
The Team would continue the engagements in Bo District on Wednesday before heading to Bombali District to continue the schedule of activities of conducting site visits to obtain data for the development of project proposal for funding.
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