The Garrison Street market is without water, electricity and cleaners causing serious health problems for both sellers and buyers of basic commodities despite the huge revenue generated by the Freetown City Council, as our Investigative reporter finds out in this report.
The market situated at the center of Freetown lacks pure water, electricity and cleaners as a result most of the basic commodities sold at the market to consumers are contaminated.
Diseases generated from flies, mosquitoes, dirty mad dogs and piles of rubbish with heavy stench that surround the chaotically located market makes it hard to contend with as
Piles of rubbish cramp among vegetables and other foodstuff spread on the bare floor and on stools on the tarmac road are common sight in the market which poses a serious health hazards to the area a health experts from the Sanitation department disclosed to Awoko that the environment is not ideal for a market.
Normal traffic is halted and some times moves like a snail as there is virtually no space for pedestrians on the road leading to Garrison and Ecowas Street inter section, due to aggressive and impolite petty traders displaying their wares haphazardly narrowing the road.
A cross section of market women and butchers besieged our reporter during his investigation to express their dismay, disappointment, frustration and lack of confidence in both the Freetown City Council and the APC Government for failing to provide basic social facilities for the market
The Secretary General of the Market Association Saidu Sesay disclosed to this Press that the Market is deplorable because the roof of the building leaks and the structure itself has cracks, the sealing is virtually of no more existence as spider webs hangs all over area.
Inside the market building is also dark as sewage flows down the drainage around the market with a heavy stench, butchers hang their meat among roaming flies and the lack of water to rinse the meat makes it worse. The market is very untidy he lamented.
The lack of cold room and water for meat sellers at the Garrison Street Market has compounded the situation causing serious hazards for meat sellers while the none existence of market cleaners makes it more disastrous for consumers who buy contaminated food stuff at the market.
Vegetable sellers are also complaining that the market ground is dirty as a result they are forced to spread their goods on the floor because there are no market tables and adequate space to display their vegetable.
Some of the market women accused the council of neglect and marginalization despite their prompt payment of taxes and market dues. Aminata Kamara one of the traders also asked what is council doing with all the monies they are generating every day market?
According to investigations at the Freetown Council efforts are being put in place for Water and Electricity to be provided for markets situated at the center of Freetown as other markets like the Kroo Town Market and the Congo Cross Market are currently benefiting.
Markets benefiting from electricity supply are expected to pay night market dues, while cleaning of the market is also the responsibility of the council, officials disclosed. However monies generated and expended by the council needs to be published or explained.