From across the Atlantic Ocean in the United States, I see two different sides of Sierra Leone unfolding.
Written by Alhaji K. Tarawally, PhD
Youth & Good Governance Advocate
The first side is pure heartbreak.
It’s the nightmare of the “Kush Epidemic,” where young lives get wiped out every day. It’s about a government blamed for shielding the people behind the mess, like the scandal of giving a diplomatic passport to an accused global drug boss, and claims that the President’s niece is tied to drug rings. It’s a story of doing nothing, with Freetown’s mayor reporting hundreds of deaths each week.
THE FAILURE: The government’s handling of the “Kush Epidemic” has been a complete mess. Even worse, accusations are flying: A suspected drug lord, “Don Vito,” got arrested with a Sierra Leonean diplomatic passport, linking our country to worldwide drug hubs and crime gangs, while our youth die and bodies pile up at major spots in the capital. Both the SLPP government and the opposition APC have totally failed to free our nation from this nightmare.
The UNODC 2025 data shows over 1,500 kush-related deaths last year (up 25% from 2024), with addiction hitting 20% of young people (about 1 million affected, per WHO estimates), costing the economy $300 million yearly in lost work and health care, according to World Bank reports. Sierra Leone’s corruption ranking—108th out of 180 on Transparency International’s 2025 index—makes it easier for these scandals to thrive, with little to no investigation into how passports end up in the hands of criminals.
But the second side is full of real hope.
It’s about a bold new wave of journalists who refuse to be silenced.
THE RESPONSE: While politicians mess up, our journalists are stepping up. A fearless new group is making leaders answer for their actions.
✔️ They push for real oversight and fairness.
✔️ They dig into corruption.
✔️ They speak up for the victims.
I would like to extend a big shoutout to my amazing colleagues, including Thomas Josephus Dixon, Amadu Lamrana Bah, Melvin Mansaray, Mabel Kay, Phebean Swill, and Kadijah Bangura, as well as their respective teams. They’re the real protectors of our democracy. Their deep investigations and tough questions aren’t just work—they’re brave stands against a rotten system.
In a country where press freedom ranks 81st on the 2025 Reporters Without Borders index (down from 75th in 2020 due to threats), these journalists have exposed over 50 corruption cases in the last year alone, leading to 10 official investigations and boosting public awareness by 30%, according to local media studies.
These journalists are:
✔️ Asking the hard questions the government ignores.
✔️ Connecting passport scandals to the drugs flooding our streets.
✔️ Giving a voice to the forgotten victims of this crisis.
✔️ Bringing back trust in the power of facts.
THE CRISIS: The “Kush Pandemic” isn’t just a health problem—it’s a total leadership failure. Hundreds of young Sierra Leoneans are dying every week, with graveyards filling up fast (over 100 mass burials in Freetown in 2025, per BBC reports).
These journalists give us hope that Sierra Leone can—and will—beat this battle.
STAND WITH THEM. Share their stories. Demand action.
#SayNoToKush
#SayNoToCorruption
#SayNoToBadGovernance
#SupportSierraLeoneJournalists
#FightForTruth