By Kadiatu Kabia
Freetown, Sierra Leone — February 16, 2026 Women traders at Portee Market have taken the lead in transforming their workspace through a community clean-up exercise supported by The Carter Center under its Inform Women, Transform Lives project. The initiative, which also covered Dan Street Market and Low-Cost Market, aims to improve sanitation while raising awareness about the Freetown City Council’s (FCC) waste management services.
A key highlight of the Portee Market exercise was the participation of the Mayor of Freetown, Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, OBE.
Madam Kadiatu Sesay, a trader at Portee Market, expressed gratitude for the initiative, noting that women felt empowered to take responsibility for their environment. “As women traders, we feel empowered to take responsibility for the cleanliness of our workspace. The clean-up is not only improving sanitation but also strengthening our sense of ownership,” she said.
Councillor Hakiratu Maxwell Caulker, Chairperson of the FCC Sanitation Committee, emphasized that the exercise contributed to creating healthier and more welcoming markets. “Health is wealth. When the council supports communities, particularly women, to lead in maintaining clean markets and provides them with information on waste management services, it empowers them to make informed decisions while contributing to a healthier and more productive population,” she explained.
Councillor Caulker further thanked The Carter Center for its continued partnership, stressing that the initiative aligns with FCC’s Transform Freetown – Transforming Lives agenda, which focuses on public health, women’s empowerment, and sustainable community development.