According to Isatu Kamara, who sells along ECOWAS Street, “We are quite aware about the ban, but all we are asking is for the FCC to show some understanding because we have to fend for our daily bread. Some of us are the bread winners of our families and if such act is fully implemented by council, how do they want us to survive.”  

She pointed out that the FCC officers seize their goods and then demand money for the return of the goods and that if they fail to adhere, the goods are then taken to the FCC Police Headquarters at Wallace Johnson Street where it becomes extremely difficult to retrieve it.

She added that when the markets get to the FCC station they have to pay even more to retrieve their goods.

However, according to an FCC Metropolitan officer, who would not provide his name, he responded to the allegation saying: “All what we are doing as officers is our work.” He added that there are laid down rules and regulations governing their work, but that the traders are not abiding by the law. He denied the allegation of the traders that claim the FCC officers are extorting money from them. “We are very professional and only doing our work,” he said.