His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, during his keynote address at the unveiling and commissioning of the Sewa Grounds Market on September 18, 2025, described the market as an important investment in the nation's socio-economic development that would provide direct support to informal sector workers.
"The informal sector plays a vital role in our economy”, he said, adding that the market would provide a safe, modern, and dignified environment for traders, while acknowledging the significant contribution of traders to the local economy of Freetown and its environs. “There is a dire need to have an organised institution for the informal sector, and my government is in the process of establishing a pension scheme for them,” he revealed.
The President commended the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Mohamed Rahman Swarray, the Director General, Management and Board of Trustees of NASSIT, for taking such an important project to completion, and announced that the cost of one open market stall would be Six Thousand Leones instead of the Twelve Thousand Leones initially proposed by NASSIT.
The Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Mohamed Rahman Swarray, said he was happy that the President was able to commission the Sewa Grounds Market, adding that President Bio’s government had always fulfilled its promises to the people of Sierra Leone. "The President is not only a talk-and-do President but also a listening one," he asserted.
While congratulating the Director General, Management and Board of Trustees of NASSIT for a job well done, the Minister implored the traders, especially the market men and women, to take good care of the facility, as that would spur the Government to construct more markets of similar standards.
In his remarks, the Director General, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, stated that taking over a system and wanting to strengthen it could sometimes be challenging. He thanked President Bio for lifting the ban on NASSIT investment, which enabled the Trust to continue with the construction of the ultra-modern market with improved features. "The President said he was not pleased seeing market women on the streets of Freetown, and therefore gave his permission for the construction to go on," he explained.
According to Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, the Sewa Grounds Market, which comprises 1,544 Open Market Stalls, 170 Upscale shops, 277 Medium- scale shops, 76 stores, a Creche, 171 Toilet facilities and urinals, a Clinic, a Police Post, a Fire Force, 24-hour electricity, water supply, is a one-stop shopping facility that would house thousands of traders and other members of the public.
“It is a safe, convenient, and secure environment, as well as a socially targeted investment that will make the cost of renting shops more affordable. President Bio, we are all happy that your plans for the market women have come to fruition. We want to say a big thank you, sir," he said.
The Chairman for the occasion, Ambassador Adekunle King, said the Sewa Grounds Market was a testament to good governance and His Excellency's commitment to improving the livelihood of the people, especially market women, adding that the market would serve as a beacon of hope and dignity.
The Chairlady of the Sewa Grounds Market, Madam Gbla, thanked NASSIT and said that they were happy that President Bio prioritised the issue of market women and assured him of their unflinching support at all times.
The high point of the programme was the commissioning of the Sewa Grounds Market and the unveiling of the plaque by His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio.
NASSIT, we care!