By Ruth Yeabu Sesay
On Tuesday 22 November 2022, a truckload of Police from the Operational Support Division demolished makeshift structures located along a stretch of the Fence of Freetown Secondary School for Girls (FSSG) on Hannah Benka-Coker Street in Freetown.
The place was for long used for the selling of food and other businesses and as a garage by commercial tricycle (‘Kekeh’) riders.
The Police action came as a result of series of complaints from the school authorities on the unfavourable scenes around the school’s precincts.
The demolishing of these structures should not have come as a surprise to the traders and kekeh riders.
A woman Fruit- Seller at the place, explained to Politico: “The Police visited us last week and told us to leave this place, they told us that if we refuse to leave they will arrest anyone found selling or doing anything around the school area”. The Police reportedly made some arrests.
The affected persons were not pleased with what the Police did and their displeasure was clearly seen on their faces. The men said they made the place safe for people at night.
The school authorities have complained about the problems they were encountering with these people, including lack of conducive environment for pupils to concentrate effectively.
Considering the fact that a school and a market should not co-exist, those responsible decided to do the needful and asked that those encroaching leave the vicinity as it was never intended to be a market rather a place where girls can get quality education without out disturbance.
Copyright © Politico Online (23/11/22)
