In an effort to ensure the Sewa Ground Market is constructed according to the contract agreement a high profile delegation from the Ministries of Finance, Local Government, DEC-SEC and the Freetown City Council yesterday visited the project site to inspect progress and challenges.
The delegation observed that the allocated fund for the project is inadequate to complete the project because the initial funds were only meant to construct two ground floors with quality foundation whilst the top floors have different expenditures.
The contract was awarded to a Lebanese national with Fackban Construction and General Services and another company called JAZZ Construction. Hassan Kanu the Deputy Manager of the construction company said the project is moving smoothly though there are minor challenges.
Hassan Kanu of Fackban Construction and General Services explained about the scope of the project for the construction of (192) one hundred and ninety two shops, one canteen (1) and twenty nine standard toilets(29) all the structures are at wall height, he said.
He also said that the construction company has employed over eight hundred (800) youths but most of them are working on daily hire and they are mostly paid on time, though there was some problem regarding the contract for plastering of the walls but it has been settled recently.
Mayor of the Freetown City Council Herbert Williams said the allocated amount for the project by the Ministry of Finance through the Decentralization Secretariat (DEC-SEC) will not complete the project to the satisfaction of the public.
He said the initial contract duration for the projects scheduled by President Koroma was October 17; he however said the contractors had given assurances of the project being completed by December this year.
He further explained that certain stores within Sewa Ground would be difficult to demolish and that stones are needed for construction work and that the demand for stores by traders has increased than earlier planned.
Deputy Minister of Finance Richard Konteh and the Deputy Minister of Local Government Raymond Kabia questioned the Mayor about the initial contract agreement noting that any plan to expand the project needs to be discussed with the Government.
The Mayor further expressed the need to expand the project so that it can accommodate more traders as only Le 800m have been available for the fisher street market but council is looking forward to the private sector particularly the banks to help raise more funds.
On the question of council impression of the project the Mayor said, the project is going as planned but expressed the need to expand the market considering the available land at Sewa Ground as there is enough space to build more stores.
He also said that traders were consulted on the design of the market and that Abacha street traders and Eastern Police have been given up to the end of fasting to vacate the streets as metropolitan officers will soon reinforce street clearing.
After inspection of the project site by the visiting delegation, laborers almost barricaded the steps demanding to complain about some of the difficulties they are going through at the hands of the contractors to authorities.
Leader of the aggrieved Laborers Haroun Kamara said the money they are being paid by the contractors are too small and that they are not fed at the project site. He said “we work under rain and sun without protective gears and the incentive is too small.”
Responding to the complaints both Mayor Herbert Williams and Richard Konteh of Finance Ministry promised to address their problems as soon as possible and encouraged the laborers to go back to work to ensure the speedy completion of the projects.
By Saidu Bah
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