By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Minister of Information and Civic Education, Mr Chernor Bah, has made an impassioned call for national unity in addressing Sierra Leone’s growing drug crisis, following public reactions to comments he made during a recent national dialogue.
In a statement released this week, Minister Bah clarified that his remarks about a personal experience involving his son at Bo School were never meant to discredit the institution. Rather, he said, his intention was to highlight the urgent need for collective action to protect young people from the dangers of substance abuse, particularly the highly addictive drug Kush, which has become a national concern.
“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,” Minister 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.”
The Minister explained that his decision to share the story publicly was made with his son’s full consent and was aimed at breaking the silence surrounding drug use in schools. “This national drug emergency does not respect class, tribe, region, or reputation,” Bah said. “No school in Sierra Leone is immune. The lives and safety of our children must come before the image of any institution.”
Bah, who is himself an alumnus of Albert Academy, emphasized that his statement was not an attack on Bo School. Instead, he described the school as one of Sierra Leone’s most respected educational institutions with a proud history of producing leaders across generations. He reiterated that the issue at hand transcends individual schools or regions and called for unity among educators, parents, alumni, and policymakers.
“Let us not fight one another; let us fight the crisis that is destroying our children,” he urged. “Speaking up, seeking help, and pursuing rehabilitation should never be a source of shame. Silence only protects predators, not students.”
The Minister further reaffirmed his readiness to collaborate with all schools across the country in the fight against drug abuse. He stressed that the government remains committed to supporting educational institutions through awareness campaigns, rehabilitation initiatives, and policies that safeguard students from exposure to harmful substances.
“I stand ready, as a father and as Minister, to partner with Bo School, Albert Academy, and every school in this country,” Bah affirmed. “This is not about blame; it is about responsibility and action. Every child deserves a safe learning environment.”
Minister Bah concluded his statement with a powerful reminder that underscored the moral urgency of the issue: “The life of even one child is worth more than the reputation of any institution. On this, the future of our country depends.”
His remarks have since sparked renewed national discussions on the scope of Sierra Leone’s drug crisis and the role schools, communities, and government must play to confront it collectively.
