On Wednesday, 19 August, Mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr officially launched the construction of the King Jimmy Market, a key component of the Strengthening Urban Governance and Local Economic Development (SURGE) Project.

Located in the heart of Freetown’s Central Business District, King Jimmy is one of the city’s oldest markets and holds significant historical and cultural importance. The market is situated near the De Ruyters Stone and the historic “slave steps and manacles,” landmarks that continue to tell an important story about Freetown’s past and the history of the transatlantic slave trade.

Beyond its historical significance, King Jimmy Market is a vital economic hub for traders and their families. For many market women, it is a source of income, opportunity and hope. During the launch, Chairlady Adama Kamara shared how her trading activities at King Jimmy enabled her daughter to pursue her education and ultimately earn two Master’s degrees.

Her story underscored the importance of investing in markets and local economic infrastructure as a means of transforming lives and creating opportunities for communities.

Mayor Aki-Sawyerr expressed her delight that Freetown City Council is able to deliver a physical market structure at King Jimmy as part of the SURGE Project. She highlighted that the project takes a holistic approach to urban development, built around four mutually reinforcing pillars: strengthening governance and institutional capacity; improving financial management and revenue mobilisation; creating employment opportunities for young people and women, particularly in sanitation and recycling; and constructing the King Jimmy Market alongside supporting economic infrastructure.

The construction of King Jimmy Market represents an important investment in Freetown’s economic and social development, while preserving a site of immense historical significance and creating a safer and more enabling environment for traders to build sustainable livelihoods.