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Wednesday 30 March 2011

Sierra Leone Don't Respect Living Heroes

Sierra Leoneans, like many other nationals in the world, are notable for their failure to respect and recognize heroes, especially when these heroes are still alive.
In most cases, heroes are only recognized in Sierra Leone when they are dead.

This situation has forced several people to ponder whether or not this country has living heroes, i.e. people who are recognized and respected as heroes when they are still alive.  In this piece, I will attempt a few definitions for the term ‘hero’, so as to give readers a clear understanding of the subject matter. This piece will also highlight some of the consequences the country suffers as a result of the failure of its citizens to recognize breathing heroes.

I have been able to obtain three definitions of the term ‘HERO’, from various standard dictionaries and the debate here would be concentrated on the said definitions mentioned in the ensuing.
i) A hero is a man of superhuman qualities, favoured by the gods; demigod.
ii) Illustrious warrior (such as is given to hero returning from battle).
iii) Man admired for achievements and noble qualities.

With the aforementioned meanings, do we really have living heroes in Sierra Leone? I want to believe we do have breathing heroes, although a good number of people have been ‘forced’ to believe that the only heroes Sierra Leone can boast of are the likes of Bai Bureh, I.T.A Wallace Johnson and Sengbeh Pieh, all of whom are dead and gone.
Why the citizens are not recognizing their heroes, when these heroes are still alive, remains a puzzle.

There are hundreds of Sierra Leoneans who are excelling in their various fields and corners. These people cut across various ages, sex, colour and political persuasions.
To verify that there are indeed heroes in Sierra Leone, one only needs to carefully listen and watch as people pay tributes to dead people. That is the time when praises would be lavished on the departed soul. At such events, people are not hesitant to talk on all of the admirable achievements and potentials of the deceased.
This is also the time that people will come with ranches full of cows, goats, fish and rice.
 
Ironically, all of these things would be shared among living people as a way of ‘honoring’ the dead, when the fact remains that some of these people actually died of hunger and/or curable diseases. They die because they cannot feed themselves and lack money to seek medical attention when they fell sick. But when they die, money and food is in excess.
Why do people withhold all of the aforementioned wealth and wait until the demise of a ‘hero’ or ‘potential hero’, is among the barrage of questions begging answers.
Investing such wealth on, and honoring these heroes whilst they are still alive will make a whole lot of difference to the life of the individual in particular, his family in general and the nation as a whole.

What does it benefit the dead hero to praise sing him when he has seized to breathe, especially so when he was never recognized and respected during his tenure of life?
What benefit do the nation or bereaved family members achieve from such tributes and showcasing of wealth during funeral ceremonies?
Why do people ignore and dismiss the talents and achievements of their compatriots when they are still alive? 
Selfishness and political bigotry cannot be far from the answer.

No matter what is said and done when a person is dead, there is no doubt that the dead person, bereaved family members and mama salone stand to gain nothing other than regrets and increased backwardness of the nation.
The dead will never appreciate anything that people do to honour him, especially so when they failed to appreciate his qualities when he was alive.
The backward state of Sierra Leone cannot be dissociated to some of these things which we normally dismiss as insignificant.
Failing to appreciate, respect and honour our living heroes is also gravely affecting the emergence of new heroes.

Potential heroes prefer not to put on display their talents for the progress of the nation; an occurrence that is no fault of theirs. This is due to lack of motivation.
It is pathetic to note that a good number of heroes and potential heroes are subjected to psychological torture. In most cases, some of these heroes succumb to such frustrations and they gradually lose their heroism to cowardice.
 
This is not only affecting the people under review as individuals, but is by extension negatively affecting the nation’s progress, since the numbers of disgruntled and jobless people will continue to record a steady rise.
Worst of it is the fact that some influential citizens do suppress and disrespect heroes and potential heroes for reasons ranging from selfishness, petty jealousy, pull-him-down syndrome, and politics.

In Sierra Leone, it is an open secret that politicians in government don’t respect the talents of politicians in the opposition; rich people displays total disregard for the heroism of poor people; and old people lacks respect for young people.
Politicians only shower praises and talk on the achievements of their opponents after the latter would have died.
How can the country ever progress when highly placed personalities deliberately and viciously ignore the aptitude of other citizens because of politics, societal status and other differences?
 
The urgency to change our attitudes in this regard cannot be overemphasized, as Sierra Leone is already losing a lot due to the citizen’s wickedness and lack of respect for one another’s talents.
We actually have living heroes in Sierra Leone and the time to start recognizing them is now. They deserve better than neglect and frustration.
Thumbs up to all the heroes in Sierra Leone. Keep the fire burning.

Submitted by Abdul Fonti

Prostitution and Lesbianism 'Wahala'

The direction in which the unholy and immoral practices of ‘prostitution’ and ‘lesbianism’ is moving especially as it has become rampant and a source for income among young teenage school going girls, is undoubtedly becoming alarming and a cause for concern.
 
In this and subsequent editions, this writer will critically be looking at these issues growingly becoming a tradition among young girls.
 
This writer knows that nature designs sex, and that being responsible and becoming a model is a matter of choice. Therefore, why do some girls ignore role model choice and prefer indulging themselves in this shameful, immoral and illegal act of selling their prestigious bodies for few Leones?
 
Most of these girls who are engaged in this unholy act do so to satisfy their unlimited material wants. If only they remain content with the little they have, there is no need for them to stoop so low to sell their blessings for dressings.
 
The ignorant notion that has been inculcated by a large percentage of teenagers that ‘one man nor dae full up box’ is another reason to be blamed on prostitution. But does that in any way sound responsible to their ears? To me it rather sounds very foolish and unacceptable.
 
It is however, pathetic to note that a good number of these teenagers engaged in this act are from wealthy families. The question that begs for answer here is what exactly are they looking for? Even coming from a poor family does not excuse one into engaging in immorality as it is my belief that each and every one has a dignity to uphold.
 
Some may argue that they are not prostitutes albeit their numerous clientele as long as they are living with their parents. That is well and good, but what is really the difference between a commercial sex worker and a school girl who goes out with a male teacher or an elderly man capable of being her father, or worst still dating more than one boyfriend? Are these not tantamount to prostitution?
 
Teenage girls, while your likes are at Abacha Street totting trayful of wares to make genuine living out of petty trading, you are out there exposing yourselves to the risk of contracting Sexually Transmitted Infections(STIs) that might cost you your very life. Shame on you!
 
Even if you may decide to stay with that lifestyle for as long as you can, you must bear in mind that human wants are insatiable! My advice to you is that stay home and go to school; or better still engage yourselves in gainful enterprises to avoid what failures would normally say: "had I know." Stop immorality of any sort as it only costs you your pride, future and even your life. Respect nature for being a special creation of God.
 
Now for a critical look at the immoral act of same sex activities. Lesbianism is the indulgence in same sex life by women. This practice has become a way of life for many teenage girls in our society to an extent that one hardly comes across a teenager at present that can be dissociated from the act.
 
It disgusts this writer to see girls fighting each other over their fellow girls. Until now, this has never being part of our culture. The earlier you teenagers start realising that lesbianism should not be inculcated into our culture, the better for your future and that of beautiful mama Salone. 

This immoral act has become so much of a culture sort of that girls are no longer ashamed to display their lust in public. "With all these things unfolding, it simply means the world is coming to an end," a Religious Leader commented.
 
At first it sounded ridiculous to me, but i was gripped with fear and disbelief when it eavesdropped a woman saying: "she is my girl friend" meaning the same love affair like between a man and a woman.
 
Girls fall in love with each other, jealous and even make love to themselves. What a disgrace! Why have you decided to demoralize yourselves to this level? Are you trying to make me believe you are no longer wanted by men? Or your sexual desire cannot be satisfied by them?
 
This writer has even come to understand that these lesbians are forsaking their love relationships with men, reason being either because their fellow women go to an extent of forbidding them not to fall in love with men or that their concentration on same sex love life does not permit them time for the opposite sex. This is ridiculous, unbelievable and above all abominable!
 
"Na me girlfriend." What an arrant nonsense! It’s high time you started quitting this life of prostitution and lesbianism. Please sit and think. You are gradually losing your respect, integrity and pride. Quit lesbianism! Quit prostitution and build on the better future you have!

By Abdul Fonti

Tuesday 29 March 2011

SLAJ Biennial Congress in Pictures

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has just concluded its Biennial Congress in the eastern city of Kenema, where Umaru Fofanah was re-elected as President of SLAJ.

Pictures of the event are published here.

 Mustapha Sesay Congratulates Umaru Fofana
 Umaru Fofana delivering his inaugural speech
 Umaru Fofanah carried shoulder high following his election victory
 Umaru Fofanah lifted with his shoe on the head of jubilants
 Umaru Fofanah casting his ballot
 Mustapha Sesay casting his ballot
 Mohamed Massaquoi, Reporters Union Prexy, casting his ballot
 Outgoing SLAJ Executive poses for News Hunters
 SLAJ Presidential Candidates, Mustapha and Umaru
  Outgoing SLAJ Executive poses for News Hunters
 Cross Section of Reporters Union Members
 Theophilus Gbenda and Abdul Fonti
 Abdul Fonti casting his ballot
 Abdul Fonti and Aruna Turay
L-R: Aruna, Fonti, AKK, Bampia and Dauda

Monday 28 March 2011

What a 50th Independence Anniversary!

It is already an open secret that April 27 2011 marks fifty years since Sierra Leone gained its ‘independence’ from her British colonial masters.

In terms of development, one cannot be wrong to say Sierra Leone has achieved little as compared to its age of ‘independence’ in relation to other sister countries she had independence before in Africa.

Considering the country’s abundance in natural and human resources, Sierra Leone is far from its rightful position in the world. Sierra Leone’s backwardness cannot be dissociated from the numerous negative vices of corruption, tribalism, regionalism and disparity, to name but a few. The aforementioned and more have marred the fifty years of Sierra Leone as an ‘independent’ country.

At a time like this, we need to reminisce on the things that have held our country’s development to ransom for the past several years. In my view, Sierra Leone is still not an independent country in its true sense. How can a country boast of independence when it still depends on its colonial master for its wellbeing? Ironically as it sounds, nobody is seemingly paying attention to that. Sierra Leoneans must now be more focused on fighting for the country’s independence rather than complacently believing that Sierra Leone had achieved its independence fifty years ago. We are still under ‘colonial rule’ because as it stands now, Sierra Leone is non-existent without financial support from Britain and other countries. The financial support being given by these countries is in itself a whole topic for debate. In my view, any country that largely depends on international funding is still under colonial rule. These international countries will not support a country if that country does not succumb to its benchmarks.
They do not only set the criteria for a country to qualify for donor support but they also give you people they refer to as ‘expatriates’ whenever you receive funds from them. Since these expatriates are paid from the very money they give you, does that not amount to colonialism in the strict sense?

Now that it has been established that Sierra Leone is far from been called an independent country, let us now look at the circumstances surrounding the commemoration of the country’s so called 50th independence anniversary.

Though the government had earlier promised that we were going to have a year-long commemoration, it is sad that nothing has happened in that direction. This is March, the third month of the country’s 50th independence anniversary year of 2011, and there are no indications that Sierra Leone is commemorating ‘fifty years of independence’.

With no attempt to politicize this issue, the two major vices responsible for the awkward situation Sierra Leone presently finds herself are corruption and economic hardship. How do you expect multitude of have-not nationals to commemorate an independence anniversary in pomp and pageantry amid stinking corruption and total economic strait? Making a mockery of the situation is whilst observing this Golden Independent Jubilee under a presumed climate of attitudinal and behavioral change the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently investigating at least five officials of the Independence Anniversary Committee set up by President Ernest Bai Koroma. They are being investigated for embezzlement of funds meant for the commemoration of the country’s ‘fiftieth independence anniversary’.

The least talked about the hardship that has besieged Sierra Leone, especially in the past few months, the better. Nothing is virtually happening – Sierra Leone is actually not on a standstill, but it is dangerously retrogressing from bad to worst.

The people of Sierra Leone are now refusing to cooperate with anything that has to do with the independence commemoration, not because they are not patriotic but because they are dying of hardship and frustrated over the news of massive corruption in the country. That’s the reality and nothing good will happen if the various stakeholders fail to map out strategies to either change the perception of the people or reverse the negative trend in Sierra Leone for the better.

The green, white and blue flags are supposed to be flying now all over Sierra Leone. But come to even the center of Freetown, PZ, and you would be shocked that not a single flag is positioned there. Sierra Leoneans are yet to heed to the calls to paint their houses; we are not seeing the green, white and blue attires; Ernest Koroma’s call for people to dress in African or Sierra Leonean outfits on Fridays has not yield any dividend. Nothing is happening. What an independence commemoration!

Let this year serves as a year of reflection. We have come a long way but we sadly have nothing to show after fifty years. Sierra Leone deserves better than this.

Tuesday 22 March 2011

Tiff Man Dem

Sitting quietly in my room updating my outdated anti virus, then my neighbor's dog went nuts! Sparky is what they call him because of his Albino looks. Sparky by the way is a "he" and he seldom bark at people. I find it very strange the he was going wild at 1am.

I decided to take a peek . There he was. Even when he's bent over sawing at something in the streets, it was obvious that he is over 6 ft and was up to no good.

"UDAT dae yanda?" I yelled. He stopped sawing, still bent over, like an ancient sculpture.

I was overwhelmed with courage and it spilled out "TIFFF!!" at the top of my lungs.

Man dropped everything, tucked tail and ran.
By the time the neighbours came out of their houses, he was gone living his tools behind.

Upon investigation, it was revealed that he was trying to cut off these old rails that are used to devided the sidework from the streets.

Since no one's property was missing everyone went back home, thinking that It was a waste of time. The tools were tossed in a garbage and Amadu ( A neighbour) who found the saw useful, decided to keep it . One even mentioned that we shouldn't blame the man. Times are hard.

I try to be a good neighbour, so I always keep my opinion to myself, to avoid argument. Mostly NOT to to resist the urge of mouthing off and calling them "idiots".

If you are a Sierra Leonean, you pay taxes,public property is also your. These taxes are used by the government improve our living conditions.

If you notice someone stealing or vandalizing government property, it is your duty as a tax payer to defend it.

If you siddom en lef all thing say na government business, there will never be a better Salone.

Lonta.

I will upload pictures of this incident in my next post.

Monday 21 March 2011

SLAJ In Trouble...Elections May Not Go On

There is a looming calamity on the forthcoming elections of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ). The association’s electoral commission and the outgoing national executive are seemingly ignoring this disaster, and there are indications that a continuation of this negligence may lead to a possible court action and embargo on the elections slated for Saturday March 26 2011.

A good number of SLAJ members have expressed dissatisfaction on two major occurrences which are considered as a total breach of vital provisions in the SLAJ constitution.

The first is the issue that has to do with the nullification of the candidacy of Moses Kargbo, Editor for Concord Times, who was vying for the position of National Secretary General, by the SLAJ Electoral Commission.

The other burning issue is the registration of SLAJ members that continued until last week. This was in total contradiction of the provision of the SLAJ Constitution which states that registration of SLAJ members should cease ninety (90) days to the elections.

Publisher of the Awareness Times Newspaper, Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, has forwarded a strong-worded letter to the SLAJ Electoral Commission, highlighting that the Commission had, with contempt, misinterpreted the SLAJ Constitution, by nullifying the candidacy of Moses Kargbo for no just cause. She also raised concerns on the registration of SLAJ members that lasted until last week, in contravention with the association’s constitution.

As the dust is yet to settle on the educative letter written by Blyden, News Hunters have learnt that a group of constitutional conscious journalists have authored a letter to the Electoral Commission with similar concerns. The said journalists are more concerned with the anomaly of registering journalists to vote in the elections up to last week.

Since Sylvia Blyden forwarded her concerns to the Electoral Commission few days back, no response has been made.

The failure of the electoral commission is a complete opposite of the prompt response that the commission undertook when Ismael Koroma and a like-minded colleague submitted a complaint against the locus standi of Moses Kargbo to contest for a SLAJ position. A decision was reached the very day the complaint was filed.

Meanwhile, it remains unclear what will be the next line of action of Sylvia Blyden and the other aggrieved journalists should their concerns are not properly addressed. But there is this likelihood for a court action to be brought against the SLAJ Electoral Commission and the outgoing executive, it has been learnt.

By Abdul Fonti


Saturday 19 March 2011

Maada Bio Tars & Feathers Himself

The recent Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) TV/Radio programme which was expected to have opportune Maada Bio to auction his political agenda, changed into something shocking. Maada Bio spent two-thirds of the programme’s allotted time defending himself rather than promoting his agenda.

He also spent time to speak about how President Ernest Koroma, the man the SLPP wants to remove from office, is his “good friend”. Logically, he also made it clear that his supporters slogans of “No Maada: No SLPP” was sanctioned by him as he subtly threatened repercussions if he loses SLPP flagbearer contest.

It was bizarre to many but not to me as I have experienced the negative phenomenon known as Maada Bio. My initial comment to his output on SLBC was: “Maada has done it again!”

Instead of concentrating on the topic under review, “Motivation to lead the SLPP’, the maverick Bio exposed his nefarious character and also libeled the Awareness Times Publisher, Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, and my humble self (Abdul Karim Kabia Fonti, Editor Awareness Times) as accepting bribes to write.

He strongly insisted that this newspaper only writes out of “financial considerations”. He impugned his fellow SLPP member Usman Boie Kamara as being the one who hired us.

Since, Sylvia Blyden has a ‘pen’, more powerful than mine, I will concentrate this piece on the verbal attacks directed at me and leave Dr. Blyden to handle Maada Bio if she so desires.

I consider his libelous assertions on TV and Radio as not only a deliberate attempt to incite public distaste against me, but also an impious move aimed at dragging my hard earned reputation in the media world and family name into disrepute. It is clear Maada Bio is jealous of my achievements at this tender age of mine, (25 years), which cannot be compared to his stained records over the years.

Unlike Maada Bio, I am not known for saying and writing things I cannot substantiate. I have allowed my Boss, Dr. Sylvia Blyden to take the lead to champion my cause after Maada Bio picked up the phone to threaten my life on December 17th 2010 but it does not mean I do not know how to defend myself against Maada Bio.

Scapegoatizing Usman Boie Kamara

It was preposterous for somebody that is aspiring to become a President to publicly make an allegation he cannot substantiate. Bio insinuates Usman Boie Kamara hired me to write against him. Let us look at the facts.

Firstly, I met Usman Boie Kamara for the first time in my life during the emergency SLPP conference that was held in Bo on the 29th January 2011. Prior to this, I had only spoken to Usman Boie Kamara once on the phone in my entire life and that was to crosscheck something with him with regards an article.

There has never been any monetary transaction between me and Usman Boie-Kamara. I understand from our newspaper’s Accounts Department that the only monetary transaction between the Boie-Kamara camp and Awareness Times has been a half-page advert announcing his SLBC Documentary and valued at Le300,000 ($70) and payment for this is yet to be collected.

So, for Maada Bio to say I, or anyone at Awareness Times, was hired by Boie Kamara to write against him on the 17th December 2010 is absurd and puerile. I met Boie-Kamara for the first time on January 29th 2011.

Brown Envelope Journalism

Maada Bio says SLPP aspirants pay journalists to write against themselves but I am surely not one of those ‘brown envelope journalists’. I graduated from the London School of Journalism (LSJ) with a Distinction in Journalism and News-Writing.

Irrespective of my controversial stances on national issues, I have never been found wanting for unprofessional journalism by Law Courts or Independent Media Commission (IMC) which latter has just this past weekend acknowledged my professionalism by awarding me as the BEST NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST IN SIERRA LEONE. I have never visited a politician to seek favour of any form. This young journalist is content with what he is being paid for doing a professional job. I can even stand up confidently and boast of being a model in the journalism profession.

With the aforementioned, Maada Bio has proved himself as a dishonest politician that must not be trusted and treated seriously.

Differences Between Bio and Fonti

Let me now hasten to highlight the reasons why I am convinced that Maada Bio is jealous of me. I have never led gun-toting boys to overthrow my boss. Abdul Fonti has never rebelled against any of his bosses, while Maada Bio has not only placed a gun on the head of his boss, Valentine Strasser, but also reportedly went to an extent of handcuffing, kicking and ordering that Strasser be dumped in the Atlantic Ocean. This young editor has never been found wanting for stealing even a pin, but Bio stands accused of stealing two containers of soft drinks from America and for comprehensively looting the State coffers during the period he was in governance.

I am not having sleepless nights for fear of being dragged to court at any time for killing somebody, but it is an open secret that Maada Bio has a case of mass extra-judicial killing of Bambay Kamara and others hanging around his neck.

As a young editor, I am ably in command of staff at Awareness Times and able to instate disciplinary measures against any errant staff under my leadership, while Maada Bio has proved himself as not only incapable of controlling his followers, but also condoning violence.

I have never picked up a telephone to threaten somebody’s life, but this maverick politician has telephoned a young journalist to intimidate him with his ‘large following’.

Maada Bio is even bitter that, like H.E. President Koroma, I am far taller than he is and thus I possess a more formidable physical stature than his short, pudgy self with his bloated abdomen.

With the aforementioned differences, one cannot be blamed for concluding that what Maada Bio did on television on Thursday night was a deliberate attempt to incite hate against me because he is jealous of my positive accomplishments.

Warning for Maada Bio!

This piece serves as a warning to Maada Bio. Please desist from lying against a journalist in public. Don’t misunderstand my cool for being a fool. You, Maada Bio, know very well that you phoned me up to make life-threatening remarks against my person that left me feeling vulnerable and afraid for my life. Prior to your phone-call on that occasion, I had never in my entire life authored a single sentence, phrase or word against you for publication. The article that offended you, for which you threatened me as Editor, was not authored by me.

Simply because I had stayed back and watch my Boss (Sylvia Blyden) fight for me should not be misrepresented that I am a coward. I had done so with the hope that common sense could have prevailed on the part of Maada Bio and he would have done the honourable thing.

If SLPP goes on to choose Bio as flagbearer, they better prepare themselves to be defending from now until 2012! In the same way Maada Bio spent 40 minutes out of a 60 minutes programme defending himself against Running a Ghana business, Unlawful Killing of Bambay Kamara and other innocent souls, Gross Indiscipline, Treachery to his Bosses, Poor interpersonal skills, Inability to Run successful Sierra Leonean business, Marital status, Intimidation of fellow SLPP, etc. etc. etc.

Patrick Muana’s Virulent Tar & Feathers

My attention has also been drawn to a recent article authored by one Patrick K. Muana, who attempted to cast aspersions on investigations conducted and published by my humble self. Muana only succeeded in exposing his limited understanding on the very issue he is defending. Some say this Muana fellow is supposed to be an English lecturer but I wonder considering his limited understanding of simple English sentences about the Texas Immigration Trial of NPRC strongman where witnesses testified about how Bambay Kamara was killed. With all due respect to the ‘intelligence’ of Muana, he is advised to go over my piece once again. The only person who is virulently feathering and tarring Mr. Maada Bio is none other than Mr. Maada Bio himself. Anytime Bio opens his mouth, he tars and feathers himself. Anywhere he goes, his entourage, by their violent actions and their words, feather and tar the ambitions of Maada Bio. By encouraging youths to chant ‘No Maada Bio; No SLPP!’ Maada Bio is feathering and tarring himself. By walking around with well-known killers like the AFRC Westside Boys he is tarring and feathering himself. Maada Bio by refusing to condemn the violence of his key supporters towards fellow SLPP members and towards Journalists is busy tarring and feathering himself. All what Awareness Times is doing is reporting on his tar & feather exercises.

By Abdul Fonti

A.P.C Day or Traders Day?

As if it was a public holiday, all the busy streets in Freetown yesterday were idle. In other words, there was a total standstill in various walks of life, especially within the country’s business sector – street and shop trading was halted.

This happened in honour of a declaration made by the Freetown City Council (FCC) Mayor, His Lordship Herbert George Williams.

In a press release issued out on Wednesday 9th March 2011, the Mayor declared 10th March as “Traders Day”. This declaration, according to the release, was in recognition of the significant roles of the traders in the society. The FCC informed the general public that ‘mass processions’ of various stakeholders, including the traders, were going to be held in the Freetown municipality to mark the day. The participants in the processions from the Attouga Mini Stadium and Aberdeen Road were to march through specific major streets in Freetown onto the National Stadium, where they were going to be addressed by President Ernest Bai Koroma, the FCC Press Release informed.

While emphasizing that the ‘Traders Day’ was not a public holiday, FCC urged the traders to observe the day by abandoning their trade and join the ‘mass processions’ from 8am to 2pm.

The ‘Traders Day’ declaration of the Mayor was widely acclaimed as a step in the right direction, though the outcome turned out to be something else.

The traders fully cooperated with the initiative of the city father, as not a single trader was spotted doing business or displaying wares in the streets of Freetown before 2pm of yesterday. As they turned out for the processions in their numbers, a good number of them never returned to their business places even after the expiration of the six-hours period of commemoration (8am to 2pm).

The Mayor’s initiative was welcomed because the citizens had expected that the declaration was a genuine intention aimed at creating a forum wherein the traders will put their concerns across to the various authorities for speedy and appropriate actions. Since it is an open secret that street trading, which has plagued the Freetown municipality, is a major problem, it was expected that the traders will use this day as a God-given  opportunity to renew their calls to authorities concerned, including the President and Mayor, for the provision of market buildings in order for them to vacate the streets.

Everybody is frustrated over the street trading eyesore in Freetown and by extension its contribution to traffic congestion, and such a day (traders’ day) was expected to serve as the opportunity to commence major strides in ending street trading in Freetown.

Disappointingly however, what was supposed to be a traders’ day event sadly turned out to be a political rally.

Majority of the traders who graced the occasion were claded in the red political party colour of the ruling All People’s Congress (APC) party. It never stopped there. Even the songs that were sang during the procession were a complete reverse of the expected reason for the commemoration of traders day. Instead of songs calling on the city council and central government to provide market buildings and create conducive business environment, the traders embarked on songs extolling President Koroma and calling for a second term for the APC among others.

This was the situation in the streets of Freetown yesterday – dress and songs were all about APC and nothing, absolutely nothing about the numerous challenges faced by the traders.

Amid all of the aforementioned undertaking by the traders, plus the assurance of the FCC that President Koroma was going to address the traders at the National Stadium and formally launch the ‘operation pick a plastic’, His Excellency Our President was conspicuously absent at the National Stadium. The traders stood at the National Stadium for hours anxiously awaiting the arrival of the father of the nation but to no avail.

The traders were later told that President Koroma was now going to address them at State House and not the National Stadium. They again cooperated fully with the announcement and the abrupt change of program. From the National Stadium, the traders continued to sing and dance to pro-APC and pro-Ernest Koroma songs onto to the citadel of power, State House.

Their hopes to dance with the President, who had always mingled with them at their various business places, including Abacha Street, were again thwarted on their arrival at State House.

After the traders had converged at State House, the President materialized to address them, but he was at the top gallery of State House. The President was seemingly or even evidently not on the mood to mingle with ‘his traders’ as usual and most of the traders left State House in a disappointed mood.

But the question that is widely being debated now is: Who let the traders down? Were they disappointed by their President or did they disappoint themselves?

During the entire commemoration, not a single forum was created for the traders to forward their burning concerns to the authorities. At State House, no forum was created for our traders to talk to the President.

Let me end this piece by asking this simple question: Was March 10 a traders’ day or an APC day in disguise?