By Abass Conteh, Reporter
On June 24, 2025, the ECOWAS Parliament convened a high-level Town Hall Meeting focused on psychoactive substance abuse and mental health, themed “Protecting Minds, Securing Future: A Parliamentary Response to Substance Abuse and Mental Health.” The event took place at the State Hall of the Sierra Leone House of Parliament, gathering parliamentarians, government officials, civil society representatives, students, and victims of substance abuse, with particular emphasis on the growing crisis surrounding the Kush drug.
In her opening remarks, Honourable Veronica Kadie Sesay, a long-serving member of the Sierra Leone Parliament and part of the ECOWAS Parliament Female Caucus, underscored the urgent need for collaborative regional efforts to address the escalating mental health challenges exacerbated by psychoactive substances.
Honourable Abdul Kargbo, Minority Leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), highlighted the Sierra Leone Parliament’s initiatives to enact laws aimed at curbing drug and substance abuse. He called for stronger legislative frameworks and enforcement measures to protect the youth from the harms associated with drug use.
The Minister of Youth Affairs also addressed the gathering, reaffirming the government’s commitment to combating drug addiction, particularly the Kush epidemic, through prevention programs, rehabilitation, and youth empowerment initiatives.
The Head of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, along with representatives from various civil society organizations, presented ongoing strategies and community engagement efforts aimed at tackling drug trafficking and addiction in Sierra Leone.
A poignant moment during the session featured a former Kush addict who shared his powerful testimony on the journey to recovery, illuminating the devastating effects of the drug and the critical importance of support systems.
Among the young voices present, Saidu B. Sillah, a pupil from National Pentecostal Secondary School, distinguished himself by actively participating in the dialogue session. He posed insightful questions and offered thoughtful solutions to address Kush and other drug-related issues in communities and schools.
The Town Hall Meeting concluded with calls for sustained collaboration among national parliaments, regional bodies, and grassroots actors to foster a drug-free and mentally healthy ECOWAS region.
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