By Kebba AF Touray
In the aftermath of a tense confrontation between street vendors and shop owners at the bustling Serrekunda Market, Hon. Musa Cham, the National Assembly Member for the Serrekunda Constituency, has called on the Kanifing Municipal Council to explore Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and other innovative financing mechanisms to improve market infrastructure and ease congestion.
In a letter addressed to the Council on Tuesday, May 27, Mr. Cham expressed “deep concern over the recent violent confrontation,” which he said stemmed from the Council’s plans to organise a holiday market sale aimed at boosting municipal revenue. It is locally referred to as “Wanterr.”
“The decision by Mayor Bensouda’s office to proceed with a proposed holiday sale without adequate stakeholder consultation has exacerbated existing tensions,” Mr. Cham wrote. He criticised what he described as a “revenue-driven initiative” that ignored the realities of overcrowding and public safety in one of the country’s most vital commercial hubs.
While acknowledging the necessity of raising funds for the municipality, Mr. Cham warned that doing so “must not come at the cost of public safety, accessibility, and order.” He accused the Council of failing to address “critical concerns,” and warned that its “inability to recognise the potential of a more sustainable and inclusive revenue model undermines its broader vision.”
Mr. Cham urged the KMC to adopt long-term infrastructural solutions, including the construction of high-rise market buildings to accommodate informal vendors and reduce the sprawl of makeshift stalls. Such developments, he argued, would not only improve market order but also restore dignity to the thousands of vendors who contribute to the city’s economy through daily fees.
“These vendors deserve to operate in a more structured and dignified environment,” he wrote, noting that unregulated congestion around the market also hinders access to the area’s only health facility. “This has had tragic consequences, including the loss of lives, particularly among the elderly who struggle to reach the clinic in times of need.”
Mr. Cham also criticised the market manager’s reported failure to act on police advice to convene a meeting with stakeholders after shop owners voiced opposition to the holiday sale. “The resulting unrest could have been avoided through inclusive dialogue,” he said.
As a former councillor and now a national lawmaker, Mr. Cham appealed for reinvestment of market-generated revenues into permanent infrastructure. He emphasised that replacing makeshift canteens with well-designed market complexes would reduce congestion and promote safety and order.
“I encourage the Council to consider viable financing options such as Public-Private Partnerships—as was done with the waste management trucks—or even municipal bonds,” he suggested.
The Serrekunda Market, one of the most densely populated trading centres in the country, has long struggled with space constraints, informal trading, and traffic gridlock—issues that have drawn mounting criticism from residents and traders alike.
