By Emma Black

Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, spearheaded a high-level meeting on Tuesday to fast-track the opening and operationalization of the Sewa Ground Market a transformative project poised to reshape Freetown’s trading landscape, the strategic session convened key players, including the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, the National Traders’ Union, and the Sewa Ground Market Executive.

The engagement aligns with the government’s pledge to harness infrastructure for public good, a cornerstone of President Julius Maada Bio’s Big Five Game Changers, these priorities job creation, youth empowerment, and human capital development find a flagship in the market’s promise to uplift traders and bolster economic vitality.

Opening the meeting, Dr. Sengeh framed it as a continuation of prior talks with traders, underscoring the government’s commitment to their inclusion. NASSIT’s Director-General followed with a detailed briefing, outlining the market’s seven key features: 1,700 stalls for table traders, 170 premium lock-up shops, 277 mid-tier shops, 85 warehouses, and 160 modern toilet units, accessibility shines through with a police post, daycare center, clinic, and disability-friendly design.

National Traders’ Union President Vandie Lansana lauded the Chief Minister’s leadership but pressed NASSIT to honor its pledge to prioritize traders displaced from Wilberforce, Rawdon, Charlotte, and Howe Streets. “We were promised first access to this new space, he said. ongoing dialogue with us is crucial.”

Launched in 2014 as a partnership between NASSIT and the Freetown City Council (FCC), the Sewa Ground Market aims to transform a once-chaotic hub into a modern trading powerhouse, accommodating over 6,000 traders and customers daily, the project spans seven lots: open market stalls (1,244 spaces across three floors), a two-story toilet block,

warehouses, site enhancements, a support facility, upscale lock-up shops, and the Herbert Williams Building an annex requiring extensive upgrades with 100 lockable shops.

Once complete, the market will not only elevate trading conditions but also curb the sprawl of informal street vending in Freetown. For Dr. Sengeh and his team, it’s a tangible step toward a more organized, inclusive, and prosperous capital.