APC Launches Campaign to Combat Kush Drug Crisis

By Lamin Bangura

On Wednesday 5th November 2025, the All Peoples Congress Party (APC) held a press conference to demonstrate their political will to help eradicate the kush drug that is ravaging the lives of poor and innocent young people.

While at the Party’s National Secretariat at Brookfields in Freetown, the event was described to look like a powerful demonstration of political and communal resolve, as the party launched a decisive campaign to eradicate the deadly kush drug crisis plaguing Sierra Leone.

Under the leadership of Madam Claudia Temple, APC Women’s Leader for Boston and APC USA Women’s Public Relations Officer, the party convened a press conference to sound a “final alarm” under the dialogue theme: “NOT US, NOT HERE, NOT EVER, THE DEADLY KUSH CRISES MUST END NOW.”

Madam Claudia Temple articulated the urgent purpose of the gathering, stating that the party could not sit idly by while the drug tears families apart, causes immense pain, and results in the loss of countless young lives. She emphasized that the APC is taking responsibility and leading the charge, moving beyond mere talk to concrete action. “We don’t just call you to talk to you,” she stated, highlighting that the event also aimed to educate on the severe health implications of kush. To this end, medical experts were present, including Dr. Samuel Sas Kargbo, to explain the devastating physical effects of the drug.

Dr. Sas Kargbo provided a stark medical perspective, describing kush as a synthetic drug mixed with dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde, with methanins being a key component. He explained that the drug is highly addictive and leads to severe health consequences, including small blood clots that can cause mini-strokes in the brain, lungs, and heart, ultimately resulting in death or permanent disability. He stressed that early cessation is crucial, as long-term addiction requires extensive rehabilitation. Dr. Kargbo also linked the crisis to broader societal issues like unemployment and hopelessness, calling for a concerted, multi-sectoral effort similar to the national response to Ebola.

The National Secretary General of the APC, Lansana Dumbuya underscored the nationwide reach of the crisis, affecting every family directly or indirectly. He called for positive action and stated that the press conference was a megaphone for the silent victims, urging the government to act decisively. He questioned the government’s inaction, pointing out that they possess the will and power to stop the scourge but have failed to do so.

Comrade Ansul Barnard, National President of the Young Congress, appealed directly to the youth, challenging them to consider their futures and the struggles of their parents. He condemned the drug’s manufacturers and traffickers who profit while young people die, calling for sincere and serious action. He urged young people to become ambassadors in their communities to cascade the anti-drug message.

The parliamentary perspective was provided by Honourable Daniel Koroma, who revealed that a state of emergency on kush had been proposed to parliament but was rejected twice due to improper documentation. He expressed the APC’s readiness to support any genuine government initiative but lamented the missed opportunities over the past two to three years. He declared that the fight would extend beyond press conferences to direct engagement with victims on the ground.

Other party leaders, including Comrade Sumah, District Chairman of Port Loko; Haja Isatu Kamara, Regional Chairperson; Kebbie Turay, Acting Chairman of the USA District; and the National Acting Chairman, Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh, all stood in solidarity with the national executive. They pledged to carry the message to the grassroots, from the district to the constituency levels, and emphasized that the fight requires a collective, national endeavor. They criticized the government’s careless attitude and inability to protect its citizens, comparing the situation to Ghana, where stricter drug laws are enforced.

The conference concluded with a resolute commitment that the APC’s fight will not stop with speeches. The party vows to escalate its actions, focusing on stopping the importation and manufacture of kush, supporting rehabilitation for addicts, and addressing the underlying issues of unemployment and lack of opportunity that fuel the crisis. The message was clear: the APC, as a government in waiting, is determined to make the eradication of kush a top priority for the future of Sierra Leone.