“In spite of efforts made by government to stabilize the economy ,certain category of business people are ill bent on amassing ill-gotten wealth through inflation of prices for local materials and other essential goods and services in the country” these were the exact words of 42-year old career cobbler, Isheka Sesay .
He said most of his work has to do with leather and general upholstery materials that are used to manufacture and design both male and female bags, wallets, belts, caps and other useful items.
He complained that leather and upholstery materials are very expensive these days to the extent that it weighs heavily on his business because of the high production cost.
He stated that since he took to shoe making, he has been squatting at a small cubicle at Liverpool Street in Freetown, hoping to expand his business to a big manufacturing industry that will create employment for the unemployed youths in the country.
He expressed skepticism that his good intention of creating job opportunity for Sierra Leonean youths will not be attained because of his low economic base, and therefore pleaded with government and other well wishers to come to his aid in order to actualize his dream of creating jobs for youths.
Isheka says he started a career in leather work in 2000 after leaving the Sierra Leone Army where he served as a mechanic, but because of the low motivation, he left and was later contracted by the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization and Resettlement (NCDDR), as a trainer to train some ex-combatants .
He had to quit the contract at NCDDR because of unfulfilled promises by that organization and went in search for a skill in leather processing in Makeni, before returning to Freetown where he finally set up a small cobbler business from which proceeds he has been supporting himself and members of his family.
“I decided on Liverpool Street because it is strategically located at the heart of the Freetown capital city where I attract many potential customers,” he concluded.
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