Minister of Trade and Industry cancels trip as traders storm city
Traders along Kissy Road and Goderich Streets on Thursday 24th May 2013 protested against their forceful eviction from their trading sites by the Freetown City Council (FCC). (Photo: Traders complain regarding FCC and SLP to Trade and Industry Minister)
During their protest along the major streets of Freetown, the traders insisted that they will not listen to any lesser person but the Minister of Trade and Industry, or President Ernest Bai Koroma.
Speaking on behalf of the traders, an executive member, Saidu Sesay called on them to exercise restraint till the arrival of the minister as they were optimistic that the intervention of the minister will spell victory for them. The angry traders later moved to the Youyi Building to complain to the trade minister.
Speaking to the minister, the traders expressed their disappointment at the City Co9uncil and the Sierra Leone Police who they say dragged them forcefully from where they used to sell their wares, destroying their stalls and in the process losing millions of Leones.
“We were treated as if we are animals,” the traders complained to the minister.
Traders in Protest
At the 9th Floor of the Youyi Building in Freetown, Alhaji Usman Boie Kamara, together with the Deputy Minister of Political Affairs, Mr. Karmokoh Kabba addressed the aggrieved traders. The Trade and Industry Minister promised to visit the affected areas to ascertain claims made by the traders against City Council and the Sierra Leone Police.
Alhaji Usu Boie Kamara however cautioned the traders to remain calm and law abiding and assured them that by the weekend every thing would be settled as he would engage the Mayor of the municipality and other stakeholders to have the matter resolved amicably.
It will can be recalled that recently, given the volatile situation surrounding street trading in the city, President Koroma had advised the relevant authorities, namely, the Trade Ministry, City Council and the Sierra Leone Police, including the traders, to find ways of resolving the problem of street trading.
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