Traders whose stalls were recently demolished at Model Junction and Tower Hill are urgently calling on authorities to provide an alternative market space, as their livelihoods hang in the balance.
According to Model Junction Chairlady, Alima Sankoh, the demolition exercises have completely cut them off from their only source of income.
“Some of us are single parents, fending for our families. This is where we get our income,” she said, describing the timing of the demolition during the rainy season as ‘inconsiderate and neglectful’.
The operation, carried out by the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) and backed by the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), is part of the ongoing urban decongestion campaign aimed at tackling street trading, congestion, and noise pollution.
But affected traders argue that such actions are not new and neither is the lack of planning that follows them.
“This always happens. They demolish our stalls and leave us with nothing. No relocation plan, no alternative space, just destruction,” said another displaced vendor.
The lack of provisions for displaced traders has left many, especially parents, in dire straits. With the rainy season now underway, conditions have worsened, and the uncertainty is mounting as the new school term looms in September.
“How are we supposed to feed our children, let alone buy books and uniforms for school?” asked Mariama Bangura, a mother of three. “We are not against development, but we need somewhere to go. We are not criminals; we are just trying to survive.”
Traders are appealing to the government and city authorities to not only consider the broader goals of urban beautification but also the human cost of such operations. Without viable alternatives, the burden falls heaviest on families already living on the margins.
