President Bio Commissions SEWA Ground Market, Promises Better Future for Informal Sector
By: Musa Kamara [Intern Reporter, Epic Radio]
President Julius Maada Bio has officially commissioned the newly constructed SEWA Ground Market in Freetown, describing it as a landmark project that will transform the business environment for thousands of small traders and entrepreneurs across the city.
In his keynote address at the ceremony, President Bio commended the Minister of Labour and Social Security, the Director General, the Board of Trustees, management, and staff of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) for “taking this vital project to completion.”
The President noted that the initiative aligns with his government’s “Big Five Agenda” and directly addresses the daily struggles of market women, petty traders, and other small business operators who have long faced harsh weather conditions and inadequate facilities.
“The new facility will provide a modern, safe, and dignified environment for our informal sector entrepreneurs,” he said. “It will boost the productivity of small and medium enterprises, improve livelihoods, and contribute significantly to the local economy of Freetown and its environs.”
Highlighting the government’s broader vision for the informal economy, President Bio revealed that a pension scheme is being developed for SEWA members, ensuring that petty traders, market women, and commercial bike riders can look forward to a “dignified retirement.”
The SEWA Ground Market is equipped with CCTV cameras, hospital services, multiple toilets, a childcare center, a police post, and other amenities aimed at creating a secure and supportive trading environment.
To reduce congestion in the central business district, traders from Malamah Thomas Street, East Street, Guinea Store, Girls Street, Eastern Police, Fourah Bay Road, and several other areas will be relocated to the new market.
President Bio acknowledged that while the facility would “alleviate, but not eliminate” the challenges of street trading, it marks a significant step toward sustainable urban order and enhanced business security in Freetown.
“This project will enhance the well-being and secure the future of our citizens,” he affirmed, reiterating his government’s commitment to empowering the informal sector as a driver of national development.
The Sierra Leone Market Women’s Association (SEWA) is a nationwide cooperative body representing petty traders, market women, and small-scale entrepreneurs. It advocates for better working conditions, access to social security, and sustainable livelihoods for members of the informal sector, who constitute a major share of the country’s workforce.
