FCC, Monuments Commission Partner to Preserve Historic De Ruyter Stone

The Freetown City Council (FCC) and the Monuments and Relics Commission have agreed to preserve and showcase the historic De Ruyter Stone as construction progresses for the new EU-funded King Jimmy Market project in Freetown.

Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr announced the development after a meeting with Monuments and Relics Commission Chairman Joseph Ben Kaifala, Esq., during which both institutions discussed measures to protect the national monument during the implementation of the market project.

The Mayor explained that while the preservation of the De Ruyter Stone is not part of the market construction project itself, arrangements are being made to ensure the monument is protected and properly displayed within the surrounding development area.

The De Ruyter Stone is among Freetown’s recognised historical landmarks and is considered an important part of the city’s cultural heritage.

As part of efforts to preserve the site, the FCC and the Commission are planning a joint design competition inviting female architects, graduates, and students to submit proposals for a protective structure to showcase the monument.

Mayor Aki-Sawyerr also disclosed that the FCC has handed over a recovered plaque from the former Howe Street residence of exiled Asantehene King Prempeh I to the Monuments and Relics Commission for preservation. King Prempeh I lived in Sierra Leone during his exile, making the plaque a significant historical artefact.

The King Jimmy Market project, valued at €413,200 and funded by the European Union, is expected to begin after the completion of procurement processes and is scheduled for completion within ten months.

The development reflects ongoing efforts to promote infrastructure growth while safeguarding Sierra Leone’s historical and cultural heritage.