Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Consultant at Legal Aid Board (LAB), Gibril Abdulai Jalloh has mediated an agreement between residents and Kush addicts in Rokupa Community, east of Freetown. The agreement was reached at a meeting between the two parties on Zubairu Street on 2nd January, 2024.
Mr. Jalloh’s intervention follows complaints and concerns from members of the Rokupa community regarding the open consumption of kush, an act that undermines peace.
The youth who sometimes number in hundred consume the drug from dawn to dusk including odd hours rendering the street a no go area at night for members of the community particularly women and children.
Also, those who use the streets have become victims of petty theft, insults, harassment and intimidation and the situation seems to have spiraled out of control. The LAB consultant first embarked on a fact-finding mission in December, last year to Rokupa Community where he saw nearly 100 youth either consuming kush or sleeping on the streets.
“I seized the opportunity to organise an impromptu community outreach to educate them on law and order issues relating to the use of illegal drugs and more importantly the effect this could have on their health and the peace and security of the community,” Mr. Jalloh recounted.
The engagement was climaxed with the signing of a mediation agreement on 2nd January, this year. The two parties underscored the dangers of drugs to the health of the consumer and the peace and security of the community and by extension the state.
The youth also agreed never to hang around Zaiburu Street to consume drugs and that those found wanting would be handed over to the police. Also the NLe500 (five hundred New Leones) donated by Mr. Jalloh will be used to cover expenses in identifying organisations or institutions that can provide help to overcome their addiction.
Mr. Jalloh also promised to contact organisations that will help them too. Head of the youth, Abu Bakarr Bah alias Teacher on behalf of the youth promised to respect the agreement.
Executive Director for LAB, Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles welcomes the agreement describing it as “an important contribution to the campaign against the drug menace.”
She called on organisations and agencies to step in and provide the much-needed support the youth needed to overcome their addiction and also provide skills that will make them become self-reliant.
“We will reach out to the Sierra Leone Youth Development and Child Link and other partners to provide support to these youth,” she assured.