APC Chief Whip Blasts Bio Gov’t Over Worsening Drug Crisis

By Musa Paul Feika

FREETOWN. The Chief Whip of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) in Parliament, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, has issued a blistering critique of President Julius Maada Bio’s government, accusing it of failing to take the worsening drug crisis in Sierra Leone seriously.

In a recent interview on the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), Hon. Kamara lamented what he described as the government’s “careless and unserious” approach to the fight against illicit drugs, particularly the spread of kush, a synthetic substance devastating the country’s youth population.

This government doesn’t need another task force to fight drugs,” Kamara said firmly. “What the country needs is a fully equipped and functional National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with the resources, logistics, and autonomy to confront this national threat head-on.”

According to the opposition lawmaker, the NDLEA the institution legally mandated to spearhead the fight against drug abuse has been starved of the necessary support to function effectively. He argued that the agency’s lack of funding, operational independence, and equipment has crippled its ability to confront what he called a “national emergency.”

Drug barons are still living comfortably in this country. That alone shows how unserious this government is about protecting our youth and our future,” he lamented.

Hon. Kamara warned that Sierra Leone is witnessing a humanitarian and social catastrophe, with thousands of young people becoming addicted, homeless, or mentally unstable due to the kush epidemic. He called the situation “a ticking time bomb” that threatens not only public health but also the nation’s stability and economy.

He accused the Bio administration of lacking both the political will and moral commitment to address the crisis, insisting that the government has turned the fight against drugs into a “public relations exercise” instead of a coordinated, well-funded national effort.

If this government truly cared about the future of our young people,” he added, “it would have prioritized the fight against drugs rather than turning it into a publicity campaign.”

Hon. Kamara further alleged that since the creation of the NDLEA, little has been done to strengthen the institution. He noted that its staff remain undertrained and ill-equipped, while vehicles and operational tools remain grossly inadequate.

Drawing historical parallels, he referenced the Ebola crisis under former President Ernest Bai Koroma, recalling that then opposition leader Julius Maada Bio initially joined the national response but later diverted attention to political campaign activities after funds were disbursed.

This government has a history of turning every national crisis into an opportunity for self-promotion,” Kamara said. “That’s why the drug problem keeps getting worse because they’re more concerned about image than impact.”

The outspoken parliamentarian called for a unified, depoliticized national strategy that brings together all stakeholders government, opposition, civil society, religious leaders, and community groups to combat the drug epidemic.

The fight against drugs should not be about politics,” he stressed. “It’s about saving lives, protecting families, and securing our nation’s future.”

Across Sierra Leone, especially in Freetown and other major towns, drug abuse has become a visible social problem, with young people openly using kush and other substances in the streets. Civil society groups have repeatedly urged the government to invest more in rehabilitation centers, community outreach, and border control to stop the inflow of narcotics.

Hon. Kamara’s remarks have reignited national debate about the government’s commitment to tackling what many describe as a “silent epidemic” that has already claimed countless young lives.

Every day we delay, we lose more of our young people,” he warned. “This is not just a health issue it’s a national security and economic crisis. The time for talk is over; action must begin now.”

SLPP Responds
In response, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Publicity Secretary, Moses Sellu Mambu, defended the government’s efforts, highlighting several initiatives aimed at addressing the crisis.

According to Mambu, the Bio administration has established rehabilitation centers across the country, launched nationwide awareness campaigns, and strengthened inter-agency coordination to curb the influx of illegal drugs.

The government is not sitting idly by,” Mambu stated. “We have made tangible progress in creating recovery facilities, increasing surveillance, and promoting community sensitization. The fight against drugs is ongoing and requires everyone’s cooperation not just criticism.”

As public pressure mounts, Sierra Leone’s drug crisis remains one of the most pressing challenges facing the nation, with both the government and opposition under increasing scrutiny to deliver meaningful solutions