Freetown, 23rd October 2025 — Former Minister of Lands and Internal Affairs, Alhaji Musa Tarawally, has issued a passionate appeal to the government to take decisive action against the growing drug crisis in Sierra Leone, describing the widespread use of kush, tramadol, and other hard substances as a national emergency.
In a video message addressed to the people of Sierra Leone, Tarawally expressed deep concern over the devastating impact of drug abuse on youth, families, and communities. “Young people are dropping out of university and ending up homeless under bridges. Marriages are collapsing. Lives are being lost. This is not just a social issue; it is a national crisis,” he said.
Tarawally warned that the drug epidemic threatens to undo the peace Sierra Leone has fought hard to achieve, likening the crisis to a criminal syndicate that authorities have failed to dismantle. He pointed to institutional failures across key government bodies, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which oversees the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU).
“These institutions have failed to stop the criminals who import and sell these dangerous substances,” he stated, adding that the Office of the Vice President, which supervises the ministry, must also be held accountable. “The President entrusted these offices with oversight, but they have failed the nation.”
Tarawally also criticized the Ministry of Health and the Pharmacy Board for failing to regulate the importation and sale of prescription drugs. “The unchecked sale of tramadol and other substances is a direct result of regulatory failure,” he said.
Calling on President Julius Maada Bio to intervene, Tarawally urged the government to restore hope to families and protect the nation’s youth. “Mr. President, you are the fountain of honour and custodian of our Constitution. Your primary duty is to protect lives and property. Sierra Leone deserves better.”
His remarks come amid growing public outcry over the kush epidemic, which has left communities grappling with addiction, mental health challenges and rising crime. Tarawally’s message adds to mounting pressure on authorities to intensify enforcement, expand rehabilitation services, and strengthen regulatory oversight.
