Freetown Mayor Launches €505,246 King Jimmy Market Project
- Grace Bangura
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has launched the €505,246 King Jimmy Market Project in the heart of Freetown’s Central Business District under the Strengthening Urban Governance and Local Economic Development (SURGE) Project.
Launched on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the project is aimed at improving one of Freetown’s oldest trading spaces and strengthening economic activity in the city centre.
The project is supported by €479,964 from the European Union, while the Freetown City Council is contributing €25,282, bringing the two stated contributions to a combined €505,246.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr described King Jimmy Market as more than a commercial centre, noting its importance to traders, families and communities that depend on the market for their livelihoods.
“King Jimmy is more than a market; it is in reality a place where livelihoods are built, families are supported and dreams are made possible.”
The Mayor thanked the European Union for its support and acknowledged Deputy Mayor Kweku Lisk Esq., the Market Committee, Councillors and Freetown City Council staff for their contributions to the project.
Beyond its economic importance, King Jimmy Market also has significant historical value due to its proximity to the De Ruyter Stone and the historic “slave steps and manacles,” which serve as reminders of Freetown’s history and its connection to the transatlantic slave trade.
The development is expected to improve the trading environment for market users while supporting local economic activity within the Central Business District.
As part of the wider SURGE Project, the initiative represents an investment in Freetown’s commercial infrastructure while also contributing to the preservation and continued use of a historic trading space that remains important to the livelihoods of residents.
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