By Alieu Amara Suwu
National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) has on the 29 August 2022 officially handed over the Sewa Grounds Market for its completion to seven contractors. The market is expected to host over 1000 and more traders after its completion.
Abel Onomake, the Consultant for NASSIT, explaining the duration the of the contract said the work is expected to be complete in the next 120 days, starting from Monday the 29th of August 2022.
Dr Hinga Sandi, Minister of Trade and Industry, in his statement, he thanked NASSIT for their timely intervention, adding that he has looked at all the engineering processes and that it would be good for traders. He said traders within the Central Business District of Freetown have suffered for so long, stating that after the completion of the building, traders would now have a dignified market place to find their livelihood.
Kabineh Kallon, Minister of Transport and Aviation, briefed that before the start of the project, his Ministry and that of NASSIT have been engaging behind the scene just to see the project gets to its completion stage. He informed those present that as a Ministry, they have also started implementing a World Bank project of constructing market structures, over-head bridges for pedestrians and street traders across the city of Freetown.
Fuad Daboh, Director General of NASSIT, on his side, explained the delay for the completion of the Sewa Grounds Market. He said since 2018, the contract of the market has been under serious investigations by different government institutions especially the Anti Corruption Commission, to know how the contract was awarded and why the project was not completed before the time frame given.
He said for the past two years now, they have been working with the management and board of NASSIT to see how they can complete the project. He said it has been back and forth; they have to go through the procurement process and he said that went well. So they are here today to officially hand over the building to the contractors, he said.
The DG went on to explain to the general public that with efforts made they have been able to reach to the stage of awarding the contract to 7 contractors that would ensure the building is completed for the stipulated time given to them. He emphasised that the money for the project is investment money and so therefore, he added “after the completion of the market traders are expected to pay for the facilities before they can have access to it.
The handing over ceremony brought together other partners and traders.
