By Foday Moriba Conteh

Caritas Freetown has taken a bold and strategic step to address the alarming rise in drug abuse, particularly the widespread use of Kush among Sierra Leone’s youth, by concluding a two-day stakeholders’ engagement in the Western Area Urban and Rural districts. Through its Kush Rehabilitation Empowerment Project and in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, with support from ONG GUAGUACUNA and Atabal, the initiative convened community leaders and influencers to design grassroots-driven solutions aimed at curbing substance abuse and promoting rehabilitation.

The first engagement took place on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at St. Anthony Hall on Skye Street in Freetown. It targeted leaders from Western Area Urban, including chiefs, pastors, imams and community heads, all unified in the goal of eradicating drug abuse in their neighborhoods.

The second session was held on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Frandy Community Centre in Waterloo, drawing in stakeholders from the Western Area Rural.

Speaking at the engagements, Murray Massaquoi, Project Manager of the Kush Rehabilitation Empowerment Project, emphasized the need for community-led intervention.

“We are here as part of our strategic implementation plan to fight Kush and substance abuse,” Murray Massaquoi stated. “Unlike past approaches where people visit communities and leave, our strategy brings stakeholders together to collaboratively develop a roadmap that addresses the problem from within.”

According to Murray Massaquoi, the project targets two main groups: communities and schools. Each represented community nominated two participants one religious leader and one secular community representative to ensure messages reach both moral and civic platforms like churches, mosques and town councils.

Murray Massaquoi also used the opportunity to educate attendees on the definition and types of drugs, differentiating between licit drugs like paracetamol and illicit substances such as cocaine, heroin and Kush. He warned that substance abuse leads to memory loss, mental illness, academic failure and in some cases death.

“We’ve given them the tools and information. Now they must go back to their communities, implement what they’ve learned and build local structures to tackle this crisis,” he said.

Although currently a pilot, Murray Massaquoi revealed that the program may expand to other parts of the country once its impact is assessed. He also announced the construction of a rehabilitation center for children affected by Kush in Makumba, which will initially support 16 seriously affected youths.

He emphasized that this is not just about raising awareness but it’s about healing, rehabilitation and saving lives.  “This is just the beginning,” said Murray Massaquoi. “We must not stop until every community is equipped, every youth is safe and every future is restored.”

Ibrahim Samuel Dugba, Director of Drug Prevention, Education and Training at the NDLEA, praised the initiative and emphasized the need for joint efforts.

“We are pleased that Caritas Freetown has partnered with us in such a timely and essential intervention. Our youth are losing their future to Kush and we must act now,” he said.

He also stressed that community stakeholders including chiefs, imams, pastors and parents are central to the fight. These individuals, he noted, can:

- Develop and enforce local drug control policies


- Facilitate access to rehabilitation and reintegration


- Conduct SWOT analyses (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) to shape interventions

“This isn’t just a meeting it’s a capacity-building platform to prepare leaders to take action in their own communities,” he added.

Responding to criticisms about the visibility of the NDLEA’s operations, Ibrahim Samuel Dugba defended the Agency, saying:

“People sleep comfortably at night because our officers are out in the cold securing this nation. Arrests are being made; seizures are ongoing. What we need is support not skepticism from the public and media.”

Ibrahim Samuel Dugba concluded by making a call to action: “Stakeholders must rise now; mobilize, speak out and implement strong policies in their communities. Our collective goal must be to make Sierra Leone a drug-free nation.”

Ansu Konneh, Director of Mental Health and Psychosocial Services at the Ministry of Social Welfare, also commended Caritas Freetown, describing community leaders as “critical allies in the fight.”

“We’ve established rehabilitation centers in several districts, but real impact comes when communities are fully involved,” he said. “We must work collectively, with urgency to protect the future of our youth.”

Several community leaders also shared the challenges and hopes they carry in the fight against Kush.

Chief Pa Alimamy Kabba, from the Approved School Community in Wellington, Western Area Urban raised urgent concerns about whistleblower safety.

“When we report Kush dealers, we face threats and intimidation. The same people arrested are released in days and come back to retaliate against us,” he warned.

The Chief called on the Government to protect whistleblowers, arguing that this is key for stakeholders to work without fear. He also stressed the need for alternative livelihoods for drug-affected youths:

“If we encourage them to quit, we must provide job skills, education or other options to keep them from going back,” he stated.

Madam Eva Linkoh, Chairlady of Mama Beach Community, Western Area Rural shared a personal and emotional account of her community’s struggles.

“We lost a boy recently due to Kush. Many of our youths now suffer from swollen legs and festering wounds,” she revealed. “Even my own son is battling addiction.”

She issued a strong plea: “The situation is worsening. We must all rise now and fight this menace before it destroys an entire generation.”

Sheik Ibrahim Bangura, Acting Youth Coordinator of the Council of Imams, welcomed the engagement and pledged the support of religious leaders.

“We’ve seen how impactful our involvement can be. We will now use our mosques and sermons to preach against Kush and raise awareness.”

He noted that the majority of the population is youthful, making this fight not just timely but essential.

“This isn’t just a national issue it’s a moral one. We must guide our youth spiritually and socially to stay on the right path.”

The two-day stakeholders’ engagement spearheaded by Caritas Freetown marks a pivotal step in shifting the battle against drug abuse from policy desks to grassroots action. With the active involvement of traditional leaders, religious figures, civil society and Government institutions, there is renewed hope that Sierra Leone can make meaningful strides in curbing the Kush epidemic.

But as echoed by all stakeholders, this battle will only be won through collective action, strategic planning and long-term investment in youth empowerment and rehabilitation.

  https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/caritas-freetown-concludes-stakeholders-engagement-on-kush-crisis-in-western-urban-and-rural-districts/