The regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with the country’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has embarked on five-day prevention and sensitization on the use of drugs in schools.

The initiative started Monday 17th February 2020 at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Secondary School, Kissy Dockyard, brought together major schools in the East End of Freetown. The program said to be in line with the implementation of the ECOWAS Drug Action Plan 2016-2020 and wholly funded by the ECOWAS Commission.

The Executive Director of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Abdul Sheku Kargbo, said as an Agency, they have been visiting schools and communities to raise awareness on the harmful effects of substance abuse. Schools are not free from the menace of drug abuse that has engulfed society. Taking drugs affects the physical and mental health of young adults. Including their learning ability and may also lead to untimely deaths, said the NDLEA director. He disclosed that the said drugs are now available in schools, bars, cafes, and night clubs as well as in remote villages.

ECOWAS-NDLEA Drug Use Prevention sensitization will conduct across 52 secondary schools in the country, targeting 2,000 students.

The schools grouped into 5 Clusters: East, Central, and West of Freetown; Bo and Makeni. The campaign will comprise of visual presentations and interactive sessions.

Mr. Alhaji Abdul Karim Sesay, Principal, Ahmadiyya Secondary School, added, drug misuse is on the rampage and that there is a need to wage war against it.

Daniel Amankwaah, Principal Program Officer, Drug Prevention and Control at the ECOWAS Commission, said the Commission is in full support of the ongoing schools' campaign on the prevention and control of drugs. He pleaded with students not to allow anyone to take part in substance abuse. He also asked them to go back to their various schools to teach their colleagues about the harmful use of drugs.

The National Drug Law Enforcement was established by the National Drugs Control Act, 2008. Its mandate is the control of and prevention of abuse of narcotic drugs, and to provide for other related matters.