By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The Mayor of Freetown, Madam Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has raised alarm over the rising number of deaths linked to the consumption of kush, describing the crisis as a direct threat to the nation’s future and an urgent test of political will.
Figures from the municipality management of Freetown City Council (FCC) show that since the start of 2025, the council has buried 142 victims who lost their lives to kush-related causes. The deaths, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr stressed, represent only a fraction of the overall crisis, as many more families across Sierra Leone continue to grapple with the devastating effects of the drug.
In an exclusive interview with Liberty Online TV, the Mayor did not mince her words in calling for stronger measures to halt the spread of kush and dismantle its supply chain. She argued that the government’s stated priority of human capital development rings hollow when the lives of young people are being lost at such an alarming rate.
“How can we talk about building human capital when our youths are dying every day from kush abuse?” Aki-Sawyerr asked. “This is a national crisis, and it demands immediate, coordinated, and affirmative action.”
The mayor emphasized that while community groups, churches, and civil society organizations have been playing their part to raise awareness, the magnitude of the problem requires government-led interventions. She cited the need for tougher enforcement against traffickers and suppliers, alongside targeted rehabilitation and counselling programs for users struggling to escape addiction.
According to health experts, kush — a synthetic drug often mixed with a variety of harmful chemicals which has become alarmingly accessible in Sierra Leone, particularly among unemployed and vulnerable youths. Its low cost and potent addictive effects have fuelled widespread abuse, leading to fatal consequences, including organ failure, mental health breakdown, and sudden death.
For Mayor Aki-Sawyerr, tackling the kush epidemic goes beyond law enforcement. She argued that the drug crisis is a symptom of deeper socio-economic issues, including unemployment, poverty, and the absence of opportunities for young people to build sustainable livelihoods.
“Every funeral is a reminder of the wasted potential of our young people,” she said. “We must provide alternative pathways—education, jobs, and hopes. Otherwise, we will continue to lose our youth to this poison.”
The Mayor also warned that the economic and social costs of inaction are mounting daily. She called for the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Welfare, and security agencies to work in collaboration with local councils and communities in developing a comprehensive response plan.
Her remarks come at a time when concerns about kush are dominating national discourse. Civil Society leaders and activists have repeatedly urged government to declare a public health emergency and mobilize resources to curb the crisis.
As the number of deaths continues to climb, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s appeal adds to the growing chorus demanding that authorities treat the kush epidemic with the same urgency as other national emergencies.
“The lives of our youth are at stake,” she concluded. “If we fail to act now, we risk losing an entire generation.”
