Traders Raise Health Alarm Over Uncleared Fire Debris on ECOWAS Street
By Matilda Ajuah Kpaka
Traders and residents along ECOWAS Street in central Freetown have raised urgent health and environmental concerns following the failure to clear debris from a major fire that gutted several shops earlier this month.
The February 8 blaze destroyed numerous businesses and properties, leaving behind heaps of burnt zinc sheets, twisted metal, and other hazardous materials that remain scattered across parts of the busy commercial area weeks after the incident.
Business owners say the lingering debris has created unsafe conditions and is negatively affecting commercial activities.
Adama Kamara, a trader operating on ECOWAS Street, told Epic Radio during a vox-pop interview that the unclean environment has made daily life and business operations increasingly difficult.
“The place looks unsafe and unattractive. Customers are afraid to come here,” she said, noting a sharp decline in patronage since the fire.
Another trader, Fatu Bangura, acknowledged that authorities had expressed sympathy to affected victims but stressed that more concrete action is required.
“Sympathy is not enough. We need immediate intervention to clear the debris and make the area safe again,” she said.
Residents have also warned of potential public health risks if the debris is not urgently removed. Mustapha Kamara, who lives in the area, cautioned that stagnant waste and burnt materials could contribute to disease outbreaks and other health hazards.
The affected traders and residents are now appealing to the Freetown City Council and other relevant authorities to swiftly intervene, clear the debris, and restore sanitary conditions along the commercial hub.
