By: Audrey Raymonda John
The Beretay Movement Foundation has intensified its campaign against drug abuse and harmful substances through a community engagement event held on Sunday, November 9th, 2025, at Horton Street near Ambrose Central in Freetown.
The event, themed “Let’s Save Mama Salone: Say No to Harmful Drugs and Related Substances,” was part of the Foundation’s broader anti-drug campaign initiative aimed at combating the growing menace of drug abuse, particularly the use of kush and tramadol among young people.
The program brought together community stakeholders, youth representatives, medical practitioners, and religious leaders to collectively pledge support for the anti-drug fight.
During the opening, Mr. Foday Kamara, a community stakeholder, welcomed participants and introduced the chairman of the event, Mr. Deen, who thanked the gathering for their presence and called for a moment of silent prayer. He emphasized the campaign’s purpose: to unite the community in combating the devastating impact of drugs.
In his address, Mr. Kamara praised Lawyer Musa Beretay Esq, founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Beretay Movement Foundation, for his continued efforts in community development and social reform. He noted that the Foundation, established in 2019, has undertaken several development projects in the Central One Community, including road construction and youth empowerment initiatives.
Community youth representative Uncle Bashiru appealed to stakeholders to avoid marginalizing young people, urging that they be empowered with vocational and life skills to help them become self-reliant and reintegrate into society.
Medical practitioner Musa M. Suma from Lekka Government Hospital highlighted the severe health risks associated with drug use, explaining how substances like kush and tramadol damage the body and brain. He warned that prolonged use can lead to mental instability and early death.
Jonathan Kargbo commended Lawyer Beretay for his leadership and cited the National Drug Control Act of 2008, which prohibits the sale, possession, and consumption of illegal drugs. He encouraged communities to serve as agents of change in eliminating drug abuse.
Imam Mohamed Tejan also spoke, lauding the Beretay Movement for its community service and noting that drug abuse has been a recurring theme in his sermons. He urged continued collaboration between religious leaders and civil groups in sensitizing the public about the dangers of substance abuse.
In his keynote address, Lawyer Musa Beretay Esq expressed gratitude for the massive turnout, describing it as a sign that the community is ready to confront the drug crisis. He lamented that kush is destroying the future of Sierra Leone’s youth, including university graduates, and called for a collective effort to eradicate the scourge.
“We must all join the fight to save our young generation. Just as we overcame Ebola and the civil war through unity, we can also defeat this drug epidemic,” Beretay stated. He appealed to drug dealers to engage in legitimate businesses to sustain their families, emphasizing that “the community can win the fight against drugs if we stand together.”
Ramatu Mansaray, a beneficiary of the Foundation’s rehabilitation efforts, gave a moving testimony about how the initiative helped her overcome kush addiction. Her story drew applause from the audience.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Natal Deen, a social worker at the Sierra Leone Correctional Centre, commended the Foundation for its ongoing efforts and urged young people to permanently abstain from drug use.
Lawyer Beretay concluded by reaffirming his commitment to expand the campaign across Freetown “from the hills to the wharfs” until drug abuse becomes a thing of the past.