By: Ilyasa Baa
Strick measures have been put in place to minimize traffic and control crowds during the graduation ceremony at Fourah Bay College (FBC), University of Sierra Leone, scheduled to take place on 12th April 2023.
One of the measures put in place by the Congregation Committee is to ensure that no private or commercial vehicle uses the Berry Street route except designated vehicles. However, private vehicles will be allowed to use the Highmart-Leicester route but should stop at Courtright where buses will be parked to convey people to the campus where the ceremony will be held.
According to the Director of Media, Alumni and International Affairs at USL, Commissioner James Tamba Lebbie, the measures are meant to minimize traffic so that people will not get stuck in traffic heading to and from the graduation ceremony.
He narrated that in the past the place looked chaotic and rowdy with poor control over vehicular movements. “No need to rush, there is going to be maximum traffic control”, he assured members of the public. He said the Congregation Committee is working closely with the Sierra Leone Police to ensure that there is a crowd and vehicular control throughout the ceremony.
On the issue of the omission of names of graduates, Commissioner Lebbie said the USL is constrained in getting grades on time. He admitted that some students did not present their dissertations in time or clear their references yet they want to graduate.
Graduates in Freetown have intimated to this medium that the measures are good noting that the lack of proper traffic control led to overcrowding during their days.
Graduants are not supposed to pay in the designated buses since their graduation fees cover transportation like five Leones per graduant.
The remaining constituent colleges are expected to follow suit on the 13th and 14 when IPAM, CoMAS and the School of Post Graduate Studies will have their graduation ceremonies respectively.