ECOWAS Parliament Declares War on Kush as West Africa Faces

By Gloria Ikibah

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The ECOWAS Parliament has launched a coordinated effort to combat the growing kush crisis, describing it as a formal “war” against the psychoactive substance that has caused widespread harm across Sierra Leone and the wider West African region.

The initiative was unveiled during a sensitisation outreach held in the State Hall of the Sierra Leone Parliament in Freetown.

The event, focused on tackling psychoactive substance abuse and addressing mental health challenges, was convened in collaboration with the Parliament of Sierra Leone.

Lawmakers and stakeholders emphasised that the campaign was part of ECOWAS’s broader mission to raise awareness and confront the escalating public health and social impacts linked to substance abuse.

According to the organisers, the outreach reflects a shared commitment among ECOWAS member states to safeguard communities, particularly young people, from the devastating consequences of drug addiction. The effort also underscores the region’s resolve to work collectively to protect public health and secure the future of its citizens.

The ECOWAS Parliament also announced new measures to combat kush addiction across West Africa, following urgent appeals by Sierra Leonean lawmakers over the scale of the crisis.

The declaration came in response to calls made during last year’s ECOWAS Plenary in Abuja by Hon. Veronica K. Sesay and Opposition Leader Hon. Abdul Kargbo.

Hon. Kargbo highlighted the severity of the epidemic, pointing to reports of users spending as much as $10 per day on kush in a country where the average annual income is under $500, and cited a particularly tragic incident in which 32 people died from kush-related causes in a single day.

In reaction to these concerns, ECOWAS Parliament members led by Hon. Orlando Pereira Dias, Chair of the Health Committee, convened in Freetown to outline a coordinated response. Lawmakers described the initiative as a “war” against kush, emphasising the need for joint action and robust regional strategies.

The visit formed part of a broader effort to strengthen collaboration among ECOWAS countries to address rising drug abuse, particularly among young people. Discussions were held under the theme “Awareness on Psychoactive Substance Abuse and Mental Health.”

Officials underscored the importance of sustained engagement, education, and policy support to reverse the spread of kush and mitigate its impact on public health and social stability.

The Leader of the Sierra Leone delegation to ECOWAS Parliament, who also doubles as Deputy Chief Whip of Sierra Leone Parliament Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay reminded Speaker Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas that they had previously made a pronouncement in the plenary sittings of Sierra Leone Parliament wherein, mounting campaign for the eradication of drug addition among youth.

Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay explained that the visit of the ECOWAS Parliament is to engage Member States for a collective effort in eradicating drug addiction among youth within the ECOWAS Region.

Hon. Sesay said this is particularly important as the country conform to new and improved substances such as kush, noting that in Sierra Leone, the government has taken a multi-sectoral approach to this crisis.

She stated that the National Drug Control Act 2008 provides a legislative framework for combating drug trafficking and misuse and also the Parliament of Sierra Leone, through its oversight and legislative mandate, continues to support reforms aimed at strengthening drug prevention, re-adaptation, and the development

of rehabilitation and enforcement mechanisms.

“We have also witnessed the increased involvement of civil society. With these organizations and the media in the form of surveillance campaigns and community outreach particularly targeting vulnerable groups” he said.

However, despite this effort, Hon. Sesay said the accessibility of campus services remains high and rehabilitation centers are under-resourced.

Hon. Sesay further explained the tour they conducted across rehabilitation centres of drug victims in Freetown with the view of doing needs assessment for possible remedial actions.

The Chairman of the ECOWAS Parliamentary Committee on Health Hon. Orlando Pereira Dias, chiefly, congratulated President Julius Maada Bio and Sierra Leone for a meritorious election as Chairman for the Authority of Head of States in the ECOWAS Region.

He continued that health is the more important issue for the people in the ECOWAS Region, which is the more reason ECOWAS has taken a stance on fighting drug abuse. He added that they also want to see youth in state of good mental health. He, therefore, called on all and sundry to join the fight to eradicate drug abuse within the ECOWAS Region.

In his remarks, Hon. Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas reiterated that drug abuse is a colossal concern not only in Sierra Leone but also in the ECOWAS Region and West Africa at large.

Speaker Thomas urged the delegation that it was time for the ECOWAS Region to take concrete action on drug abuse among youth, and that it had become very timely to engage the youth of West Africa, as drug abuse has become a concern to them as leaders.

“Because if we continue in this kind of trajectory, it would be difficult to see a youth in a very serious condition. So I thank you very much for coming. Let me assure you that the Parliament of Sierra Leone is all ready to support you in the fight against drug abuse”, Speaker Thomas assured.