By Alpha Abu
The indigenes of Kpaka Chiefdom in Pujehun district have organised the first Trade Fair in nearly thirty years. The event held at Kpangbema village drew hundreds of people from within Sierra Leone and neighbouring Liberia. The fair which revived memories of its once famous past, saw the display of various goods ranging from agricultural produce to locally knitted clothes and general merchandise.
Older people, who witnessed past fairs, expressed their delight that the event was being revived. People living in Gbangbeima and the entire Kpaka chiefdom had felt completely isolated from the rest of the other chiefdoms in the district. The rugged roads make it difficult for vehicular travel and the people have to spend treacherous hours and even days to reach other towns and villages to buy commodities.
The latest trade fair attracted people from across the Liberian border invoking memories of past events decades ago that saw business people coming from Liberia even countries like Ghana and Ivory Coast.
According to one of the organisers and deputy Commissioner General NRA, Jeneba Kpaka Bangura, various prominent figures in the chiefdom that included the Paramount Chief, Parliamentarian and other local leaders resolved to restart the fair after several meetings. She described the initiative as a great success not just for the surrounding communities but the country as a whole. She disclosed that the event will be held on every Monday in the week and just as it was done during the revived event and in past ones, there would be on the weekend preceding the market day, what she described as a “cultural renaissance” involving traditional dances and masquerades.
She said the commerce is good for the local economy and human capital development in general, saying the maiden market day manifested “a great atmosphere”.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (12/04/21)
