The pavements and sidewalks of Freetown’s streets have of late been ‘beautified’ with used clothing, house-hold utensils, toiletries, awkward looking used shoes and all sorts of assorted commodities, displayed by petty traders.
The streets have become very narrow as humans and cars battle for passage while the sidewalks are occupied by petty traders.
Speaking with some of these petty traders who are now occupying the pavements and streets of Freetown making it difficult for commuters to go about their daily activities, Memunatu Kamara explained, “must of us do not like selling on the streets of Freetown under the hot burning sun.”
She continued, “we have no option. There are no markets for us who are selling commodities like these (toiletries, used cloth and second hand toy),” she said.
Ms Kamara explained selling on the street “exposes you to a lot of risk such as accident and the like…”
Fatmata Conteh a street trader selling pens and books explained that the markets are all filled with traders selling food-stuffs.
She emphasized the need for building a market for them who are selling other types of commodities.
Sorie Fofannah explained that most of them engage in petty trading because they are unemployed and that it is not their desire to sell on the street, but they are pushed to the street by circumstance.
He urged the government to please construct a market for them so that they would keep off the streets, noting, “if you find us selling on the street after the construction of the market then government can take action against us.”