By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, once again, I feel compelled to raise a matter that weighs heavily on the lives of our people, a painful truth about the youth of Sierra Leone and the drug epidemic ravaging them under your administration’s watch. But first, allow me to address a deeply disturbing issue. Members of your party have taken it upon themselves to intimidate me, possibly to dissuade me from continuing my writing. Although I don’t hold you directly responsible, I implore you to caution these individuals. It is concerning that some would stoop to threats for a fleeting moment of your attention or to receive some favour from your office.
Our history, Mr. President, has involved many frank discussions, which I have been told you valued. I believe you recognize the value of constructive criticism, so I proceed today with trust in that foundation. The issue I bring to you is about the drug known as “Kush” that is devastating our youth, and the subsequent failures in our governance around this tragedy. Mr. President, I have to ask, do you care for these young men and women as your own “children” in the broader Sierra Leonean family as you do for your biological children?
Every day, our youth suffer, trapped in cycles of poverty and unemployment, with few opportunities and little hope for the future. Many have turned to Kush as a means of escape, to numb the pain of lives overshadowed by disappointment and struggle. And while you boast of funds allocated to the so-called “war on drugs,” the grim reality on the streets tells a different story. Despite the billions spent, the crisis worsens daily, and more and more young people succumb to this deadly addiction. It is almost as if your promises are meant for the podium and not the practical realities of our youth.
You’ve responded to this crisis by establishing a task force. But this is a task force that lacks credibility. Led by Brigadier Professor Foday Sahr When positions of influence are filled by figures who prioritize self-interest, how can we expect them to have the best interests of our youth at heart? This “show of force” approach only breeds resentment. These young people don’t need intimidation, they need care, empathy, and a future they can believe in.
We know the deepening hardships these youths face, and we know why they turn to drugs. And yet, rather than invest in sustainable solutions, we see your administration enacting superficial fixes that fail to get to the root of the problem. Our youth do not need policies that enrich a handful of contractors or programs that are grand in name but meager in real impact. They need genuine reform, which addresses the root causes of addiction, poverty, lack of access to quality education, and an absence of employment opportunities. This administration has all but abandoned them to a grim fate.
Mr. President, it is heartbreaking that while so many of your young countrymen are trapped in this crisis, your own children are seen on social media flaunting wealth, perpetuating the sense of inequality and hopelessness among our youth. They see your children enjoying privileges they will never know, while their own lives are a daily struggle. This is the root of their resentment, Mr. President. It isn’t just about drugs, it’s about the widening gulf between the haves and the have-nots in Sierra Leone. The glaring social imbalance is demoralizing, and every day that passes without meaningful change only amplifies their frustration and despair.
When will the voices of these youth reach you, Mr. President? How long will you allow these issues to receive only cosmetic treatments that temporarily quell public discontent without solving anything? From unemployment to lack of social services, from an underfunded education system to a healthcare system that barely functions Sierra Leoneans deserve real solutions, not empty promises.
You may think I am being harsh, Mr. President, but these are desperate times, and the nation’s problems require urgent action. You have the power to institute reforms that would shift the course of our youth’s future. But this will require deep and introspective leadership. Have you, Mr. President, taken the time to reflect on the impact of these broken promises? The Sierra Leonean people are resilient, but they cannot continue to shoulder the burden of neglect and mismanagement indefinitely.
Before I leave you Mr. President, I would like to share that my latest book, titled “Monopoly of Happiness, Unveiling Sierra Leone’s Social Imbalance”, is now complete. This work delves into the underlying causes of the suffering that so many Sierra Leoneans face. It speaks to the systemic issues and the social inequalities that have plagued our country for far too long. I strongly encourage you and all Sierra Leoneans to read it, not because I seek praise, but because I believe in its potential to spark real conversations that might lead to meaningful change.
Mr. President, it is time for a new course of action, one that focuses on real, systemic solutions. Our youth deserve more than empty speeches and flashy projects; they deserve a future. It’s time for you to set aside the political pageantry and focus on real, measurable progress that improves the lives of everyday Sierra Leoneans.
Thank you for your time, Mr. President. This is not just my plea, it is the plea of a nation that yearns for hope, for change, and for a brighter tomorrow.
