By: Ishmail Stanley Bangura
The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Alhaji Manika Kamara, has urged the government to move beyond the culture of blame and take urgent, coordinated action to tackle the devastating rise of kush—a synthetic drug ravaging Sierra Leone’s youth.
Speaking on the popular media program Media Junction on Sunday, 26th October 2025, Kamara described the kush epidemic as a national emergency that requires a unified response from all sectors of society.
“Kush is killing our young people at an alarming rate,” Kamara warned. “This fight must not be about shifting responsibility or accusing one another. Government, civil society, the media, and every citizen must act together before it’s too late.”
He commended the media for its vital role in exposing drug networks, raising awareness, and advocating for rehabilitation programs, but noted that journalists often face intimidation and threats for reporting the truth.
“Our duty as journalists goes beyond holding the government accountable,” he said. “We are also partners in seeking sustainable solutions. If we risk our safety to tell the truth, then authorities must show the same courage in taking action.”
Kamara called for increased government funding for rehabilitation centers, stricter enforcement against traffickers, and nationwide education campaigns on drug abuse prevention.
He concluded with a message of solidarity and urgency, warning that the continued loss of young lives to kush could cause irreversible harm to Sierra Leone’s future if immediate steps are not taken.
