Mayor Bode Gibson to account for Le 900 million

The quest of securing a permanent market for street traders and hawkers in Freetown has become a nightmare for not only the Government and Freetown City Council (FCC), but even for Freetonians themselves. (Photo: Freetown Mayor, Franklyn Bode Gibson)

Previous administrations of FCC have apparently taken advantage of this quest and in the event we have seen how a lot of money has been expended without the erection of the markets to take the traders off the streets.

Disgruntled members of the business community are alleging that Sewa Ground is now the new Kuwait for Mayors of the FCC where they allegedly connive with contractors to get kick backs.

Disgraced Major Herbert George Williams did his and left behind poorly unhabitable tiny ramshackle stalls. The money he is reported to have spent on that project is alleged to be over a billion Leones.

From all indications it now seems that it is the turn of Mayor Franklyn Bode Gibson to ‘chap.’ In a bid to carry out his scheme he is reported to have uncompromisingly told traders of the park entrance through a twenty man delegation of traders on Friday, February 28 at Wallace Johnson Street, Freetown that traders must start using the shabby stalls built by his predecessor for free effective Monday, March 3.

Reports reaching this paper now indicate that Mayor Bode Gibson allegedly used Le 900 million on the tiny make shift market stalls which were never used but hastily dismantled after been condemned by President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma on his visit to the Sewa Grounds in early February this year.

Residents I spoke to are now asking for the refund of this money or Mayor Gibson be investigated by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) as the said money is tax payers’ hard earned money meant for the development of the city.

They further opined that if Mayor Gibson is not investigated they would not participate in future tax payments.

All efforts to talk to Mayor Bode Gibson were unsuccessful as at press time as he kept postponing the interview with this Reporter.

By Tamba M. Musa

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