The ECOWAS Parliament has launched a sensitization mission in Sierra Leone aimed at strengthening regional collaboration on substance abuse and mental health.
The delegation met with various stakeholders, including government ministries, parliamentary officials, and law enforcement agencies, to discuss the growing concern of substance abuse in the country.
“We appreciate the leadership of the ECOWAS Parliament on this critical issue,” said the Director General and Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alan Logan.
He harped on Sierra Leone’s resilience through multiple national crises and emphasised the importance of joint regional responses to new challenges such as drug abuse.
The Honourable Speaker of the Sierra Leone Parliament, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, described the situation as a national emergency, citing the devastating impact of the synthetic drug “Kush”.
He commended President Julius Maada Bio for establishing a Multi-agency National Task Force on Drug Control and Substance Abuse and stressed the need for sustained legislative attention and cross-border coordination.
The delegation also engaged with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, which outlined its operational strategies and capacity constraints. Officials called on the ECOWAS Parliament to advocate for regional support and institutional strengthening to combat substance abuse.
At the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Director of Mental Health discussed psychosocial dimensions of drug abuse and current rehabilitation programs. The Ministry of Health emphasized the need for harmonized sub-regional policies and investments in mental health infrastructure.
The Ministry of Youth shared insights from field experiences, highlighting the urgency of scaling up rehabilitation, skills training, and psychosocial support for affected youth.
The ECOWAS Parliament Head of Delegation reiterated their commitment to supporting Member States through coordinated parliamentary actions and evidence-based advocacy.
The mission will continue with outreach to community actors and a Town Hall engagement in Freetown, aiming to foster enhanced cooperation and develop effective strategies to combat substance abuse in the region.