APC Government is incapable

Unlike others, political histories have it that the incumbent APC Government is more than capable to take firm decision with regards to national issues, a silver hair political pundit opined.

During the last Presidential and parliamentary elections, the issue of street trading was politicized by the three major political parties. First was the then SLPP government that faced rejection by the Abacha Street traders because of their valiant attempt to clear all traders from that street.

In order to shift the blame, the SLPP publicly told these traders that the leader of the PMDC, Charles Francis Margia during his tenure as Internal Affairs Minister in the SLPP government was strongly behind the issue of street trading.

Margai, known to be a man with a sugar coated vibes was unable to overturn the minds of the traders in his favour. The APC party known for its ninety-nine political tactics assured traders their continued presence on the street if and if only they give them the opportunity to govern the state.

This gentleman’s agreement between the street traders and the incumbent remains cordial to an extent that these traders have two voting rights in the party structure which is not common in other political parties.

It is an indisputable fact that the rate of street trading is on the increase and that the government and the oppositions are afraid to come up with a clear cut decision to eradicate street trading once and for all for fear of what they describe as a political blame.

The degree of embarrassment faced by peddlers especially during the rush hours, both in the morning and evening remain unexplainable. The rate of accidents at Abacha Street, Guard Street and Kissy Road are the direct causes of street trading.

The Freetown City Council, Road Transport Corporation and the Sierra Leone Drivers Union must work concertedly to remove traders from the street. But the million dollar question is who will ‘bell the cat’ when all these organs of state are bent in doing things that will not hurt the traders even if it is the right thing.

By the look of things, the issue of street trading is far from over as so much politics has been attached to it such that political parties see it as a no go area.

The issue of transparency and accountability in African politics especially Sierra Leone is nothing but an organized joke.

As it stands, the people of Sierra Leone are unable to ascertain the amount of money city council is collecting as local tax and other forms of taxation.

The Audit Service Commission, charged with the responsibility to audit and give a very genuine opinion on the way and manner the monies are spent deliberately refused to make public the Audit report for all cities and districts councils country wide, reason being to prevent the situation whereby the press would be aware of the degree of management waste taking place in the country.

The first step to the eradication of street trading is for the gentleman’s agreement between the government and the street traders to be terminated, an indication that the government was ready to make street trading a thing of the past.

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