By: Fatmata Grace Okekearu, Bo City
The Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) Southern Region has paid a courtesy visit to the newly transferred Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Andrew Mustapha Kamara, at the Regional Police Headquarters in Bo. The visit aimed to strengthen collaboration and foster a strategic partnership between WIMSAL and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) in addressing critical societal issues, particularly drug abuse and gender-based violence.
During the engagement, the Deputy Regional Coordinator of WIMSAL South, Madam Beatrice Sao Bundor, emphasized the importance of media-police collaboration. She noted that such a partnership would promote transparency, enhance public awareness, and support community safety initiatives.
“We recognize the essential role the police play in maintaining law and order, and as media professionals, we are equally committed to amplifying messages that foster peace, security, and national development,” Madam Bundor stated.
Madam Diana Veronica Fillie-Blackie, former Secretary-General of WIMSAL, also highlighted the increasing concerns regarding the rise in drug supply and consumption in the Southern region. She called for a united front between the police and the media to tackle this issue, stressing that the fight against drugs requires sustained advocacy and enforcement.
Adding a personal perspective to the discussion, Madam Frances Mummy Jabaty, a member of WIMSAL, shared her emotional experience as a mother of a victim of drug abuse. She made a heartfelt appeal for immediate action to address the crisis, describing it as “a ticking time bomb” that is destroying the youth. “We need urgent and coordinated intervention to save our children from the grip of substance abuse,” she pleaded.
In response, AIG Andrew Mustapha Kamara, the Regional Police Commander South, expressed appreciation for the visit and commended WIMSAL for its proactive engagement. He reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening collaboration with the media, especially WIMSAL, in tackling drug abuse and other criminal activities in the region.
“I believe in the power of credible information in the fight against drug distribution and abuse,” AIG Kamara stated. “Working closely with the media will not only help us better inform the public about our operations but also support intelligence gathering by encouraging citizens to report suspected drug dealers. My office always remains open to the media.”
The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their shared commitment to public safety and community well-being. The engagement also underscored WIMSAL’s ongoing dedication to working alongside security agencies in addressing social challenges that affect women, children, and society at large.