Traders at the ‘Big Market’ are at loggerheads with their chairman, Sheik Hassan Kamara, over the Le10 million compensation given them by NASSIT for the demolition of their makeshift structures adjacent NASSIT’s regional headquarters at Wallace Johnson Street in Freetown.
According to the secretary general of the Art and Craft Association at the market, Osman Bah alias Malam, the Le10 million was doled out last year to the market through chairman Kamara for the general development of the market.
He said the fund was used by the chairman and his seven-man committee members at the basement of the market building without taking cognizance of members of the Art and Craft Association upstairs.
Osman Bah said the chairman and his committee only visited them upstairs when there was conflict in which they levied fines.
He said the market neither had a constitution nor an account to keep funds for its development.
Mr Bah requested that either the current chairman relinquish that office or they would discontinue paying tax to the Freetown City Council.
Retorting to allegations of misappropriation of the Le10 million, Mr Hassan Kamara acknowledged receipt of the money in question but noted that the fund was not meant for the general traders in that market but for non members and members of the market who were affected by the NASSIT road construction back of market.
He said 72 people from various categories including shoe, cookery and scrap building material sellers benefited from the money.
Mr Hassan Kamara stated that the money did not come directly from NASSIT but from a construction company hired by NASSIT to construct a road leading to the NASSIT Western Area regional headquarters adjacent to the Freetown ‘Big Market’. “Some people received a million Leone and the remaining money was directed towards the rehabilitation of the market’s mosque”, he said. On the question of his current position as chairman, he said the position was not an income generating one, adding that the previous chairman deserted because of compounded problems which ranged from unwarranted allegations and other threatening remarks.
“I inherited a burnt out market structure after January 6th 1999 invasion of Freetown by AFRC/RUF Rebel but I have succeeded in transforming ‘Big Market’ to a storey building,” he concluded.
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