By Abdul Kamara

Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, has called on Sierra Leoneans to unite in tackling the country’s escalating drug crisis, following public reactions to his recent remarks during a national dialogue.

In a statement issued this week, Minister Bah clarified that his comments about a personal experience involving his son at Bo School were never meant to discredit the institution. He said his intention was to draw national attention to the growing danger of substance abuse among young people, especially the spread of the highly addictive drug known as Kush, which continues to destroy lives across the country.

“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 explained that sharing his story publicly was a deliberate choice made with his son’s consent, aimed at breaking the silence around drug use in schools. “This national drug emergency does not respect class, tribe, region, or reputation,” he said. “No school in Sierra Leone is immune. The lives and safety of our children must come before the image of any institution.”

Minister Bah, an alumnus of Albert Academy, stressed that his comments were not an attack on Bo School. He described it as one of Sierra Leone’s most distinguished institutions with a proud legacy of producing great leaders. He said the issue at hand goes far beyond any single school or region, urging parents, educators, alumni, and policymakers to work together in confronting the crisis.

“Let us not fight one another; let us fight the crisis that is destroying our children,” he said passionately. “Speaking up, seeking help, and pursuing rehabilitation should never be seen as shameful. Silence only protects predators, not students.”

He reaffirmed his readiness to collaborate with schools across the country to combat drug abuse and protect students. According to him, the government is committed to supporting awareness campaigns, rehabilitation programmes, and policies designed to safeguard young people from harmful substances.

“I stand ready, as a father and as Minister, to partner with Bo School, Albert Academy, and every school in Sierra Leone,” Bah said. “This is not about blame; it’s about responsibility and action. Every child deserves a safe and healthy learning environment.”

Concluding his statement, Minister Bah delivered a powerful message that resonated deeply across the nation: “The life of even one child is worth more than the reputation of any institution. The future of our country depends on this truth.”

His remarks have reignited public conversation about Sierra Leone’s drug problem and the urgent need for collective responsibility among schools, families, and communities to confront the growing crisis.