President Bio inspecting Harmful Drug Rehabilitation Facility

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

President Dr. Julius Maada Bio on Thursday, 30th October 2025, paid an emotional visit to the Government’s Harmful Drug Rehabilitation Facility at the Peace Mission Training Centre (PMTC) Barracks in Hastings, where he assured recovering victims of his administration’s unwavering commitment to ending the harmful drug pandemic devastating Sierra Leone’s youth.

Addressing the patients and staff, President Bio expressed deep concern over the growing abuse of kush and other synthetic substances, describing it as a national emergency that threatens the very future of the country. He reminded the young people that their recovery is vital to Sierra Leone’s development, urging them to take advantage of the Government’s rehabilitation efforts.

“If you destroy your future now, there will be no one to develop Sierra Leone,” he said passionately. “I see a very bright future in all of you. We want you to become better citizens than us and that is why we are breaking the chain of supply of these harmful drugs.”

The President condemned individuals involved in the production and sale of kush, calling their actions a grave betrayal of national trust. He expressed particular disappointment at reports that some parents were profiting from the illegal trade, stressing that such conduct undermines the moral fabric of society. “It saddens me to learn that some parents are selling kush. I urge them to stop immediately and find a decent way to earn a living,” he said firmly.

Highlighting the Government’s nationwide response, President Bio revealed that rehabilitation centres have been established in Hastings, Gondama (Bo) and Daru (Kailahun), with plans to open another in Teko (Makeni). He also directed the Police and Judiciary to intensify efforts in dismantling drug networks and ensuring that those involved in trafficking face the full force of the law.

The President became visibly moved as he listened to heart-wrenching testimonies from victims and their families. He expressed outrage after hearing from a mother who had been wrongfully imprisoned for eight months because her son, a kush addict, had stolen Le17,000 from a drug dealer. “That woman suffered double jeopardy,” he said. “She was punished for her son’s addiction and for her poverty. That was wrong.”

Parents shared stories of pain, endurance and eventual hope. Hawa Gborie, a single mother, recounted how her son’s addiction led to her incarceration but later expressed gratitude for his successful rehabilitation at the free Government facility. Another mother, Elizabeth Ansumana, spoke about her son, a trained lawyer, who lost his career to addiction before being restored through the Government’s programme after the family could not afford private treatment.

Among the rehabilitated victims was Margaret Jawara, now an anti-drug ambassador, who narrated how peer pressure drove her into addiction during university. She credited the Hastings rehabilitation centre and the Ministry of Social Welfare for helping her recover and return to school, now using her experience to inspire others.

Minister of Social Welfare, Melrose Karminty, praised President Bio for his personal involvement and leadership, noting that the presence of military personnel at the Hastings facility has significantly reduced escape incidents. She revealed that the Ministry is actively engaged in family tracing and reintegration efforts to reconnect recovered victims with their loved ones, many of whom have successfully returned home.

President Bio concluded his visit by reaffirming his Government’s resolve to fight the kush menace through a balanced approach combining prevention, rehabilitation and law enforcement. He called on all Sierra Leoneans to take collective responsibility in safeguarding the nation’s youth.

“The fight against kush is not just a Government effort; it is a national duty,” he said. “We must save our young people because they are the future of Sierra Leone.”

​The Calabash Newspaper is Sierra Leone’s leading English‑language news platform—established in 2017 to deliver trusted coverage of politics, culture, health, and more to audiences both at home and abroad.