By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Residents of the Leicester Road community in Freetown are voicing strong frustration over the worsening state of their roads, especially during the rainy season. The community, which has been in existence for more than two decades, continues to suffer from neglect and poor infrastructure, making daily life increasingly difficult.
The road linking Leicester Road to Model Junction and surrounding areas has deteriorated to the point where even commercial motorbike riders, known locally as okada, often refuse to ply the route, leaving residents stranded or forced most people to walk long distances.
Speaking to Forum News SL, Mariama expressed her dissatisfaction on the road: “I have lived in Leicester Road for over 15 years, and nothing has changed when it comes to our road. During the dry season, it’s bad, but when the rains come, it becomes a nightmare,” said Mariama Sesay, a petty trader in the area. “Our children go to school late, sick people can’t easily get to hospitals, and we suffer carrying our market lwares through mud and water.”
The situation has grown so dire that entire sections of the road are riddled with potholes, water-logged ditches, and loose gravel, making it almost impassable for vehicles and extremely risky for motorbike riders.
Mohamed Kamara, a motorbike rider stationed at Model Junction, shared his frustration. “We are here to make money, not to risk our lives or damage our bikes. When it rains, Leicester Road is like a river. The potholes are deep, and sometimes you don’t even see them because of the water,” he explained. “That’s why many of us avoid going up there. It’s not worth the risk.”
Kamara added that those few riders who dare take passengers to the area often charge double the usual fare, citing the wear and tear on their bikes and the hazards involved.
Residents complain that their repeated appeals to local and central authorities have gone unanswered. Community elder Pa Alusine Kallon said they have written letters and held meetings with local officials, but nothing tangible has come out of those efforts.
“This road has been like this for years. Every election, they come with promises, but after that, we are forgotten again,” Pa Kallon lamented. “We are taxpaying citizens too. Our children go to school like everyone else’s. Why should we be treated like second-class citizens?”
The road problem also affects businesses in the area, as delivery vehicles find it difficult to access the community, leading to shortages of goods and inflated prices.
A local teacher, Fatmata Koroma, expressed concern over the effect on education: “When it rains heavily, most children don’t come to school. Some fall in the mud or arrive late and wet. How do you expect them to learn in such conditions?”
Several residents are now calling on the government, particularly the Ministry of Works and the Freetown City Council, to prioritize road rehabilitation in Leicester Road as part of broader urban infrastructure development plans.
“This is not a favor; it is our right,” said youth leader Ibrahim Conteh. “We are not asking for luxury. We just want a decent road so we can live and work in dignity.”
With the rainy season intensifying, residents fear the situation may get worse, leading to increased accidents, isolation, and further economic hardship. Many are urging quick intervention to prevent what they describe as an “avoidable disaster in slow motion.”
For now, the people of Leicester Road continue to live in hope that their cries will finally be heard—and that action, not promises, will bring relief to a long-suffering community.
