Freetown, September 30, 2023 – The Director General of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, has unveiled exciting news about the Sewa Grounds Market redevelopment project.
During a site inspection alongside the Minister of Trade and Industry, Ibrahim Alpha Sesay, Daboh revealed that the market is well on its way to completion by the end of 2023.
Originally scheduled to finish in November 2023, the project encountered unforeseen challenges, prompting NASSIT to schedule a meeting with contractors for a timeline reassessment. However, Daboh expressed optimism that, given the current progress and successful negotiations with contractors, the market will indeed be operational before the close of the year.
The Sewa Grounds Market redevelopment project represents a significant milestone in the efforts to reduce street trading in Freetown, the country’s capital.
Arc. Abel Onomake, Project Manager at NASSIT, shed light on the ambitious project’s history. Initiated in 2014, it’s a collaborative venture between NASSIT and the Freetown City Council (FCC), aimed at transforming the market into a modern hub capable of accommodating over 6,000 traders and customers daily.
The comprehensive project includes seven distinct lots, encompassing open market stalls, a new toilet block, a warehouse block, site development works, a support facility block, upscale lockup shops, and the Herbert Williams Building (Upscale Annex Building).
Of particular interest are the Open Market Stalls (Lot 1), which involve a three-floor reinforced concrete building housing approximately 1,244 market stalls. Additionally, the Proposed Toilet Block (Lot 2) is a two-floor structure designed to cater to both male and female users. The Herbert Williams Building (Upscale Annex Building) consists of around 100 lockable shop spaces, requiring substantial rehabilitation work.
The completion of the Sewa Grounds Market is poised to revolutionize trading conditions in Freetown and significantly reduce informal street trading in the city.
