By: Problyn J. Alpha
With funds from Koidu Limited Mining Company, the Koidu New Sembehun City Council (KNSCC) in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Traders Union Kono Branch has on Saturday 23rd April, 2022 thoroughly cleaned the Gbense Market a place which many has described as one of the notorious places in Koidu City for flooding.
During the cleaning exercise, the Mayor of Koidu New Sembehun City Council His Worship Ambassador Komba Matthew Sam foremost pointed out that it is an open secret in Kono District that the Gbense Market is one of the notorious places in the Municipality of Koidu that floods whenever there is any heavy downpour which has caused so many lost to traders and as a responsible Council the KNSCC pleaded with the management of Koidu Limited mining Company.
He added that their intervention is what has resulted to the general cleaning at the Gbense Market.
Mayor Komba Matthew Sam noted that the said general cleaning superficially targeted the cleaning of the drainages at the said Market which has been the major factor responsible for the flooding that occur whenever it rains.
Asked why only Gbense Market when other places equally flood when there is heavy down pour?, the Political head of the Koidu New Sembehun City Council maintained that the Gbense Market is the major source where foodstuff are sold and bought for the consumption of the residents of Koidu City.
As a result, the Council through its prudent to start with it adding that that plans are underway to roll out such exercise to other flood prone areas in the City when funds are available as flood mitigation is a major concern of the Koidu New Sembehun City Council.
Talking about the sustainable measures of the cleaning exercise at the Gbense Market Mayor Sam thanked their partners WHH and UN- Habitant for their resources and tireless efforts in making the City clean and for the formation of bye- laws by UN- Habitat in order to maintain waste management practice in the City. “Besides the bye- laws I expect everyone to change his or her attitude for the betterment of Koidu City”, the Mayor of Koidu New Sembehun City Council observed.
Concluding, he thanked the people of Koidu City for supporting the said cleaning exercise by not only cleaning the Gbense Market but their homes which to him demonstrated the felt need for monthly general cleaning and hope President Bio will revisit such initiative.
He further lauded the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Tamba Lamina for the Provision of an additional waste management truck to the Council because of the proper handling of the two the Council has prior to now.
He assured all and sundry of the judicious use of them at all times.
Usman Fofanah is the Chairman Sierra Leone Traders Union Kono Branch in an interview, he foremost underscored the initiative of the Koidu New Sembehun City Council for the cleaning of the Gbense Market as most of his constituents have suffered and lost many of their goods and commodities whenever there is heavy pour down.
He maintained that the drainages are very shallow noting that whenever it rains the water flow is very slow and as a result flooding always occurs. He thanked the Mayor for soliciting funds from Koidu Limited mining company for the said cleaning exercise.
According to Chairman Usman Fofanah the cleaning exercise was highly welcomed by the traders as they did not only close their shops but they also participated fully in the cleaning exercise.
“For the exercise to be sustainable, we have charged every trader the responsibility of serving as watch dogs for those that may be dumping their waste in the cleaned drainages nothing anyone caught will be fined”, the chairman explained.
The Kono District Chairman Sierra Leone Traders Union concluded by thanking the Koidu New Sembehun City Council for assigning one of the waste management trucks to the Gbense Market for proper waste management on daily basis he urged all to make good use of such golden opportunity.
