Freetown, 27th October 2025- Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, has issued a heartfelt public appeal for national unity in tackling Sierra Leone’s escalating drug crisis, following concerns raised about comments he made during a recent national dialogue.
In a statement released this week, Minister Bah clarified that his remarks, referencing a personal experience involving his son at Bo School, were not intended to shame the institution but to highlight the urgent need for collective action.
“More than three years ago, while my son was a student at Bo School, he was coerced and threatened by older boys to experiment with Kush,” Bah revealed. “As a father, I took immediate action and filed a formal complaint with the school administration in May 2021, long before I entered public office.”
He emphasized that the decision to speak publicly about the incident was made with his son’s full consent, and was driven by a desire to break the silence surrounding drug abuse in schools.
“This national drug emergency does not respect class, tribe, region, or reputation,” Bah said. “No school in Sierra Leone is immune. The lives and safety of our children must come before the image of any institution.”
Bah, himself an alumnus of Albert Academy, stressed that his remarks were not an indictment of Bo School, which he described as a proud institution with a rich legacy. Instead, he called on teachers, parents, alumni, school administrators, and policymakers to unite in confronting the crisis.
“Let us not fight one another, let us fight the crisis that is destroying our children,” he urged. “Speaking up, seeking help, and pursuing rehabilitation should never be a source of shame. Silence only protects predators, not students.”
The Minister reaffirmed his commitment to working with all schools across Sierra Leone to promote student safety and drug prevention, stating, “I stand ready, as a father and as Minister, to partner with Bo School, Albert Academy, and every school in this country.”
He concluded with a powerful reminder: “The life of even one child is worth more than the reputation of any institution. On this, the future of our country depends.”
