Sierra Leone’s Parliamentary Committee on Social Welfare has raised concerns over rising drug abuse, financial shortfalls in social agencies, and widespread land encroachment at a government-run juvenile rehabilitation centre, lawmakers said after a weekend oversight visit.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Haja Miatta Amara, said it was briefed by the National Public Health Agency and the National Drug Enforcement Agency, which warned that illicit drugs were undermining national development. Both agencies identified insufficient funding as a major obstacle in curbing the spread of narcotics, particularly the synthetic drug known locally as kush.
Officials told lawmakers that more than 400 addicts had completed rehabilitation at Hastings and Gondoma centres, while over 2,000 victims of substance abuse had received psychological support at the Ministry of Social Welfare’s “One Stop Center.” Those who completed rehabilitation are now described as “Ambassadors of Positive Change.”
Amara said the committee would consider reporting its findings and recommendations directly to President Julius Maada Bio. Lawmakers suggested creating a basket fund and improving data collection to attract donor support for anti-drug efforts.
The committee also noted operational challenges at the Anti-Human Trafficking and Smuggling Agency, including limited funding, inadequate equipment, and restricted mobility.
At the Approved School Juvenile Home in eastern Freetown, lawmakers said they found teachers not on payroll and extensive encroachment on the institution’s 44-acre property. They reported that land had been taken over by private structures including hotels, markets, and homes, while the football field is now under the control of the Sierra Leone Football Association. Some school quarters were also illegally occupied.
Despite the challenges, the committee said students at the home were performing well academically, with at least one rehabilitated pupil now studying at Njala University.
Attempts to engage the Hajj Secretariat as part of the oversight activities were unsuccessful, the committee said, after staff failed to attend scheduled meetings.
