The Ministry of Youth Affairs has turned to the entertainment industry to help fight against drug abuse.
Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Lusine Kallon, last week announced a collaboration with one of the leading female entertainers in the country, Henrietta Mbawah, who is a filmmaker and actress, to fight drug abuse among youngstars.
Mr Kallon was quoted saying that they will engage other line agencies to campaign against drug abuse and other substance misuse among the young people. He lamented that his government had inherited a challenging situation with the youth facing the brunt, noting that it was time to act and change the ugly story.
The deputy minister noted that the government alone couldn’t shoulder the burden, hence the need to collaborate.
Kallon cited a recent risk assessment conducted with a United Nations team from New York giving a clear picture of the exact situation of the youths in terms of vulnerability. He said the assessment meant to prepare the government to address the problems of drug abuse and substance misuse among young people. He expressed hope that the partnership would yield positive result by ending negative mindset from among the youths and make them responsible citizens in society.
Henrietta Mbawah, the head of Henrietta Mbawah Foundation, used the occasion which took the form of a press conference to premiere her latest movie titled: "Crip Town", which she said was produced in response to a study on the current situation of young people in Sierra Leone.
"Our study alluded to the fact that the system has cracked and we needed to find a prompt solution," said Ms. Mbawah told journalists.
She lamented that local industries had manufacturing cheap brands of alcoholic drinks had worsened the situation. She therefore appealed to the Government to intervene and fix the situation.
She also called on parents to stop protecting their child who have become menace in society.
Ms Mbawah commended President Julius Maada Bio for providing the opportunity to young people to serve at national level in all governance structures of the New Direction administration.
Emerson Kamara, Deputy Commissioner of the National Youth Commission (NAYCOM), said drug and substance abuse were a national concern that needed urgent action.
"We have made a lot of commitments and what we are looking forward to now is real action," Kamara said.
He added: "in moving into real action, you identify the key players so that a sustainable solution will be enforced.”
Francis Langumba Kelli, Director of Planning, Interagency Relations and Strategic Communications, Office of National Security, said youth indiscipline and lawlessness had become an existential issue in the country and therefore recommended for a national conversation on youth issues.
Mr Kelli said 2020 was meant to develop a cohesive strategy and programs for the country, a strategy that would reverse the prevalent ugly development.
The security expert described the current crop of young people as 'lost generation'.
"Our political leaders have not been able to help the situation," he said, whilst stressing that politicians used the youth during elections and glamorised them for doing their dirty work.
Legal Aid Board Executive Director, Fatmata Claire Carlton Hanciles, praised the Youth Ministry, particularly the Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, for his efforts in addressing the problems of young people.
"Minister Kallon has done more and he is a household name because he sees himself as one of them," said Ms Carlton Hanciles, pledging her institution's support to promoting the movie to sensitize the youth.
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