In a bid to ensure that market activities proceed as usual on Monday, September 11, 2023, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Madam Fatmata Wurie, joined forces with the Traders’ Council today, September 9, 2023, for a market-to-market sensitization campaign.
This initiative aimed to counteract rumors circulating on social media, allegedly inciting protests by unidentified and unpatriotic individuals.
The need for this morning’s exercise arose from a misunderstanding surrounding a message from Madam Mariatu Kargbo, Chairlady of the Aberdeen Market Association, calling on members to engage in selling on Monday. Following complaints from the Traders’ Council, Madam Mariatu Kargbo was summoned to Lumley Police for clarification.
Addressing the Aberdeen Road Market on behalf of the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, Madam Fatmata Wurie expressed gratitude to the Traders’ Council and its members for assisting the government in dispelling this unpatriotic call.
She urged Chairlady Mariatu Kargbo to dismiss the misinterpretation of her message and continue her trade, emphasizing that accepting the invitation was a sacrifice for national service.
Addressing the Aberdeen Road Market on behalf of the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, Madam Fatmata Wurie expressed gratitude to the Traders’ Council and its members for assisting the government in dispelling this unpatriotic call.
She urged Chairlady Mariatu Kargbo to dismiss the misinterpretation of her message and continue her trade, emphasizing that accepting the invitation was a sacrifice for national service.
Deputy Minister Wurie reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property and consolidating Sierra Leone’s hard-earned peace and democracy. She encouraged all Sierra Leoneans, including traders, to carry on with their normal activities on Monday, September 11, 2023.
Speaking to their constituents from Aberdeen Road, the Traders’ Council Executive called for peace and advised against heeding any calls for unrest by masked individuals.
He assured the traders that the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Security Sectors had pledged their utmost commitment to protecting them during their normal business activities on Monday.
Madam Fatmata Wurie commended the Sierra Leone Police, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Traders’ Council, the Aberdeen Road Market Association, and all stakeholders for their swift collaborative efforts in ensuring the return of Chairlady Madam Mariatu Kargbo to her role.
With words of encouragement from Deputy Minister Wurie, Chairlady Mariatu Kargbo smiled and agreed to continue her call for calm and normalcy.
The engagement concluded with prayers for a united and peaceful Sierra Leone, led by the Public Relations Officer of the Traders’ Council, Ibrahim, also known as “Bobor for ihn mot.”
Source: Technical Support, Ministry of Trade and Industry
