By; Unisa Thorlu Conteh
Sierra Leone stands today at a crossroads between survival and ruin. Our beloved nation, once defined by resilience, community, and the unbreakable spirit of its people, is now battling a deadly and silent war from within.
The widespread abuse of deadly substances like Kush and cocaine has engulfed our towns, our schools, and our homes. These poisons are claiming the lives of our young people daily, slowly destroying the very foundation of our country, our human capital. When President Julius Maada Bio took office, his administration promised to make human capital development the cornerstone of national progress. It was a vision built on education, health, and youth empowerment, a dream that inspired hope across the country.
But today, that same human capital is under siege. Our youth, instead of being the engines of national development, is being consumed by addiction, despair, and death. The rise of Kush and cocaine is not just a health issue, it is a matter of national survival.
The Urgent Need for a United Front
The time for silence and complacency is over. Citizens, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, religious leaders, and the opposition must rise as one to confront this national tragedy. The government’s response has been weak and inconsistent, while the epidemic spreads like wildfire.
Each day we delay, more young lives are lost; more families are torn apart; and more futures die before they even begin. We cannot wait for policy reviews, endless committees, and empty promises. We need action—swift, coordinated, and uncompromising.
The lawmakers representing our people must introduce emergency legislation to combat the trafficking, production, and distribution of Kush and cocaine. Civil society must mobilize, not just in Freetown, but across every district, chiefdom, and community. Sierra Leoneans abroad who profit from shipping these chemicals into the country are betraying their homeland; they are complicit in this national destruction.
Demanding Accountability and Transparency
There are growing and troubling allegations circulating across the country, accusations suggesting that certain individuals close to power may be connected to those at the heart of this drug crisis. Allegations that a man named Umar Sheriff, reportedly a drug lord and holder of a Sierra Leonean passport, is married to the President’s daughter cannot simply be ignored. There are also whispers about a so-called “Mama of Kush,” allegedly related to the First Family. If such claims hold any truth, they represent not just an individual scandal, but a national crisis. We, the people of Sierra Leone, demand immediate, transparent, and independent investigations into these allegations.
No one, regardless of position or family connection, should be beyond the reach of the law. If our leadership is to maintain even a shred of credibility, it must show the moral courage to purge itself of corruption and complicity.
The Role of Our Leaders and Communities
We call upon Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown to declare a full economic and social emergency crisis in the city. The number of deaths, the surge in mental illness, and the growing human toll caused by the Kush epidemic make this declaration both necessary and urgent. Such a move would not only mobilize local and international attention but also unlock the possibility of increased aid, technical support, and the focused deployment of resources. Religious and traditional leaders must join this effort too. They are the moral backbone of our society and must use their influence to educate, counsel, and heal the broken hearts left behind by this scourge. Families and communities must also stop enabling addiction and instead play active roles in prevention and rehabilitation.
A National Renewal
Our nation’s future depends on what we do now. Sierra Leone cannot march forward while our youth are enslaved by drugs. We cannot talk about development, education, or peace while an entire generation is being lost to addiction and hopelessness.
The government, the opposition, the civil society, and every ordinary Sierra Leonean must join hands to reclaim our country from the grip of this catastrophe. We owe it to our children. We owe it to the memory of those who fought for freedom and peace. We owe it to the generations yet unborn. Let us rise with one voice loud, united, and resolution, to end the Kush and cocaine epidemic before it ends Sierra Leone.
