By: Peter Beckley (Op-ed)
The Ministry of Local Government’s letter to the Freetown City Council wasn’t an attempt to silence or embarrass anyone, it was a legitimate administrative step to ensure that figures shared publicly are accurate, traceable and can inform the national response to the Kush crisis.
In public governance, facts must be verifiable, not emotional. When numbers as serious as 220 deaths are announced, it is the duty of any responsible government institution to confirm them, not to dispute tragedy, but to document it properly and respond accordingly.
Unfortunately, what should have been a technical request for clarification is now being twisted into a political spectacle.
The Ministry’s query wasn’t about who cares…it was about how best to coordinate. The fight against Kush requires shared data, coordinated interventions, and accountability from all institutions, local and central.
Without verified data, even the best-intentioned response risks being misdirected.
The truth is…the government is deeply concerned about the Kush epidemic. That’s why the President established a National Task Force, engaged security, health, and community sectors, and continues to mobilize national and international resources to address this crisis. But solving it requires collaboration, not confrontation…truth-sharing, not headline-grabbing.
So rather than dramatizing coordination as conflict, let’s focus on what really matters…saving lives, supporting families, and restoring hope to a generation at risk.
My two cents!
