Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – The Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has praised the efforts of Abu Bakar Sillah, co-founder of the ‘Say No To Drugs’ campaign, for his outstanding work in combating drug abuse both within Sierra Leone and internationally. “I appreciate your good work in the campaign against drugs, both at home and abroad,” Vice President Jalloh stated, acknowledging the significant impact of Sillah’s advocacy.
During his recent visit to the United Kingdom, Vice President Jalloh took the opportunity to commend Sillah for his dedication to this critical cause, highlighting it as a true act of patriotism. The Vice President made these remarks at the 20th Anniversary Sporting Veteran RC UK football match, held at Peckham Park in Rye Lane, London. The event was supported by the ‘Say No To Drugs: Sierra Leonean Lives Matter’ campaign.
Vice President Jalloh emphasized the importance the Government of Sierra Leone places on the fight against drug abuse, particularly the growing issue of “Kush” among the youth. He noted that the government has taken strong measures to address the problem, including the declaration of a State of Emergency on Harmful Drugs.
On behalf of the campaign, Abu Bakar Sillah, also known as Ivorian Sillah, expressed his gratitude to the Vice President for recognizing their humanitarian efforts. Representing his co-founder, Mamadu Bobor Barrie, and the entire team in Sierra Leone and England, Sillah highlighted the campaign’s evolution and its continued commitment to raising awareness about drug abuse.
“We’ve adapted our campaign to ensure the message resonates both here and back home,” Sillah explained. “In Sierra Leone, our banners read ‘Say No To Drugs: Our Future Matters,’ but here, we’ve shifted the focus to ‘Say No To Drugs: Sierra Leonean Lives Matter’ to emphasize our concern for our people back home.”
Sillah concluded by reaffirming the campaign’s dedication to Sierra Leone, stating, “We want everyone to know that even though we are in the diaspora, we are not simply relaxing. We care deeply about our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone because, for us, there is no place like home.” BT/26/8/2024
