Speaking on the essence of the feeding programme, chairman of the association, Sanpha Kamara said the whole exercise was geared towards complementing government’s efforts at the speedy construction of what would be the biggest market structure in the country.

He told the gathering that the association had decided to provide food and drinks for the workers to demonstrate gratitude and to further encourage the contractors, stating that the association was able to raise funds through contributions from members and nothing from any politician.

He said they were very much aware of the fact that the ongoing construction of the market was not only a laudable initiative on the part of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust, but also a programme specifically designed to address several issues affecting the association.

Mr Kamara further stated that his association was united and poised to complementing the efforts of the site workers of the construction company called Global Group of Companies for the pace at which the construction work was going.

He maintained that the gesture was a show of appreciation for the good work and that the association would ever remain grateful to government for the construction of a huge multipurpose market for traders in the country.

Chairlady of the association, Fodia Gbla, noted that for the past years traders had suffered a lot in terms of accessing commodities and modern market structure that would take traders off the streets of Freetown.

She said that the government of President Ernest Bai Koroma recognized the roles and contributions of traders over the years, adding that the ongoing construction of the Sewa Grounds Market was not only a step in the right direction, but also a clear demonstration of government’s readiness to answer to and address multiple issues affecting traders across the country.

Madam Gbla concluded by stating that she was very proud of the President Ernest Bai Koroma’s government for the initiative and steadfastness and appealed to government to accord the association members’ preferential treatment, as they were occupying the market space before government decided to construct the multipurpose market for traders in Freetown.