BY SAHR I. KOMBA
232NEWS, FREETOWN
The Minister of Youth Affairs Mohamed Orman Bangura has called on youths to stop taking harmful drugs. He said that in an interview with the media on 14 August 2023, he said that civic education plays an eminent role in the fight against harmful drugs.
The Minister of Youth Affairs urged youths to stop taking harmful drugs noting that youths are the power house of any country. He urged parents to provide good parenting to the children noting that charity begins at home. He said that his Ministry is working in collaboration with youth groups to ensure that youths become resourceful in the country. He disclosed that the country has porous borders and this has led flow of harmful drugs into the country. He said that the fight against drugs requires a collective effort and the government is working with stakeholders to fight against drugs he said.
The Executive Director of Sierra Leone Youth Development Habib Kamara said that the fight against harmful drug required multi sectorial approach noting that government should take the fore front.
He called on government to review 2008 Anti-Drug Act and empowered National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to enforce the laws against harmful drugs.
He however noted that the Ministry of Youth Affairs should provide job opportunities for the youths of Sierra Leone adding that this will make the youths resourceful.
He furthered that the fight against drug involve the establishment of rehabilitation centers noting that rehabilitation is important in the fight against harmful drugs. He noted that people should stop the stigma against drug addicts noting that this will serve as an impediment in the fight.
He said that the country has lost youthful population to harmful drugs.’ ’This should be of concern to the government because youths form 60% of our population’’ he said
He disclosed that synthetic drugs are now produced in the country which is making the fight against harmful difficult. He called on government to depopulate the streets noting that depopulation of the streets will help in the fight against harmful drugs in the country. He noted that crime is common among youths who take harmful drugs. We should use Sierra Leone solution to a Sierra Leonean problem he noted.
He called on Sierra Leoneans to be patriotic and nationalistic in addressing the issue of harmful drug adding that civic engagement, nationalism mobilization and inclusivity will help to address the issue of drug in Sierra Leone.
