TRANSPORT MINISTRY IN COLLABORATION WITH TRADE, LABOUR MINISTRY AND NASSIT HAND OVER SEWA GROUNDS MARKET TO CONTRACTORS

Sewa Ground Monday 29^th August, 2022.

National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and the Ministry of Trade, Labor and Social Security, handed over the Sewa Grounds facility to the Contractors for work to be completed within a 120 days’ timeframe and handed over to traders and businesses in the central business district.

In his statement, the Director General of NASSIT, Mohamed Fouad Daboh expressed his gratitude to the Ministers for being there particularly these three considering the importance for their Ministries.

He stated that the Central Business District (CBD) area was one of the most prominent settlements within the Freetown Municipality, noting that the city was not crowded by then, but in the past couple of years, the Freetown Municipality has become so congested with streets trading particularly along the Central Business District (CBD)Area rampant.

He maintained that the facilities in existence within the facility and its environs for traders, workers, commuters and school going children have out grown its demand and that happens without an attempt to reciprocate for the demand of the growing population.

‘’NASSIT took a decision to construct the Market facilities at Sewa Ground against that background, to be able to address the issue of streets trading and traffic congestion within the Central Business District (CBD) Area ‘’ Director Dabor noted.

He said that the project started years ago but was stalled in 2018 as the facilities became a subject of investigation by the Sierra Leone Auditor Service, Justice Biobele Commission of Inquiry and the Anti-corruption commission who imposed an embargo as the investigations progressed.

He explained the legal processes the Institution has gone through undergone to proceed with the completion of the project in the one hundred and twenty days (120).

Providing a technical description of the project, the Project Manager Kellah said that the building at Lot 1 which is the open stalls occupies 50% of the surface area which is half of the facility; he that has four different types of stores depending on the type of goods, among others which includes large spaces for tables.

He disclosed that the total capacity of 1,544 open stalls and tables for traders and could hold a total occupancy of about three thousand (3,000) people.

He maintained that Lot 11 involves the construction of forty (40) toilets compartment, twenty (20) for male and twenty (20) for female and 16 Urinals.

Lot 111 is the Warehouse block that would serve as a resupply facility with 76 large storage capacity.

“Lot 1V facilities will complement all other facilities, it will accommodate storage for 100,000 liters to supply the market and facilities, 350 KVA Transformer for power generation and a Stand- by Generator including a Car park space’’ Kellah maintained.

He said the Lot V, a special building will provide spaces for police post, a detachment of fire force and fire hydrants with Clinic and Creche for nursing mothers to look after and breastfeed their babies. He added that Lot VI facilities would accommodate 6 duplex and 182 upscale lockup shops of an advance grade.

He concluded by assuring the public that NASSIT is committed to the completion of this facility within the 120 days’ timeframe of which 7 days has already elapsed.

The Transport and Aviation Minster, Kabineh Kalloh expressed thanks and appreciation to the Director General of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) for making the Sewa Ground project continuation possible, adding that the Sierra Leone Integrated and Resilient Urban Mobility Project (SLIRUMP) through the Ministry of Transport and Aviation is working closely in collaboration with the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) to ensure that the project affected persons within the corridors especially along the Central Business District are relocated in a safe and modernize market structure.

He explained that the project is a World Bank funded project to enhance Urban mobility in Freetown, noting that this will support the modernization of the public transport system, addressing climate resilience, enhancing road safety and build capacity of stakeholders in the transport sector.

He maintained that the west and east corridors different has categories of affected persons were impacted by the project interventions among others which include Sani Abacha Street  etc.

He emphasized that the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Sierra Leone Integrated Urban Mobility Project under the Ministry of Transport and Aviation is committed in ensuring the social safety and livelihood of all project affected person.