Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Minister of Internal Affairs, Rtd. AIG Morie Lengor Esq, attended a high-level regional conference themed “Mapping the Future of Drug Markets in West Africa: Synthetic, Cocaine, Criminal Money and Strategic Response” held in Accra, Ghana, on 27–28 November 2025.
The dialogue aimed to build coalitions of stakeholders to address the complex health, security, and human rights challenges posed by drug markets in West Africa, as well as to develop strategies for effective responses.
Minister Lengor extended warm greetings from His Excellency, President Brig. Rtd. Julius Maada Bio, the Government, and the people of Sierra Leone to the conference organizers. He also thanked Ghana for its hospitality and inclusion of Sierra Leone, and expressed condolences on the passing of Ghana’s First Lady, Mrs. Rawlings.
He highlighted that Sierra Leone is currently facing a significant illicit drug challenge, with kush identified as the most urgent concern, requiring swift national and international action.
Minister Lengor outlined four key national priorities for tackling drug markets in West Africa:
1. Reviewing the National Drug Control Act 2008 to align with evidence-based standards.
2. Implementing the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Strategic Master Plan.
3. Regulating and strengthening nationwide treatment and rehabilitation facilities.
4. Reinforcing community-based harm reduction programs across the country.
He emphasized that mobilizing local, international, technical, and financial support is crucial to the success of these efforts. This includes encouraging the UNODC West Africa and the West Africa Coast Initiative (WACI) to reinstate programs in Sierra Leone.
The conference concluded with discussions on strengthening multilateral cooperation, intelligence sharing to disrupt transnational trafficking networks, capacity building, securing technical assistance for drug enforcement, and implementing strategic plans.
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