Hillside Road: Massive Demolition
As development is not anticipated in a day, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure under Minister Alimamy Paolo Koroma (in photo) is undertaking a rapid demolition exercise at the back of Pademba Road Maximum Prison. The demolition and road construction contract is being done by the Senegalese Road Construction Company (CSE).  According to Mr. Alpha Conteh, a senior operator in the company, the demolition exercise will last for the period of six months. Residents at the back of Pademba Road Prisons are said to be gravely affected by this exercise.
Prior, to this time, it could be remembered that ample time has been given to residents to relocate to other designated areas before the demolition commence. Some of the residents who found their way in the right of way have been compensated by the Government and subsequently relocated to Yams Farm in the east end of the City.
According to few workers interviewed, the demolition process will be going right through the ‘Sumaila’ town community via Albert Academy and end in the western part of Freetown.  While the demolition was going on, some residents confirmed to this press that some land/house owners who acquired their land/properties in the aforementioned before the announcement of the Hillside road construction was made have already been compensated by the Government.
However, this road construction process which is geared towards easing the congested traffic in the City has affected not only land owners, but it has severely tampered with the livelihood of some old vegetable growers who do subsistence gardening at the back of Pademba Road Prisons. The scene of the demolition, when visited by SEM reporters was jam-packed with on-lookers and the affected people, especially “Plassas†sellers (vegetable sellers) were weeping bitterly and they questioned the Government as to where they would earn their livelihoods after the demolition exercise?
In the light of this coming road construction by the Government, the affected property owners are calling the Government to speedy up their relocation process as the rainy season is now at its peak.
By Madieu Jalloh and Jimmy Opito – SEMStay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
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yankay seisay
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As a concerned citizen I think it is the duty of you journalist to help in the sensitization to how people especially those with little understanding, that the world has change and they have to change with it.In recently decades we have seen how population growth is effecting the enlargement of capital cities world wide and Freetown is no exception. Please tell the plassas people that they have to migrate to rural areas for this important work they are carrying on . We need them just as we need good roads for ourselves and generations to come . This trend will continue as long planet earth is existing. For some of us who grow up in the 70’s you can collect that wellington field using to be a swampy area ,where all kinds of plassas used to be grown . Even where standard chartered Bank is standing now in wellington. To confirms this visit those areas now and you will see what changes in growth has done to those places.Please let put development first . Our country is backward in this terms compare to many other African country that I have visited. Let the children of tomorrow has a legacy that will give them courage to continue in the path of practical achievement .Like I always say practical ,practical ,because we are tired with the theatrical speeches of Harvard and Oxford. Bravo to the Koroma administration. May God help us to remember those who sacrifice for our development. God bless Sierra Leone .
15th June 2010