By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Executive Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, has described the decision by the Say No to Drugs Campaign Team to collaborate with his institution as “the right call” in the fight against harmful substances in sports.
The campaign, spearheaded by the Barrie Help Foundation and the Ivorian Sillas Foundation under the banner “Say No To Drugs,” is seeking partnerships with the NSA, the Ministry of Sports, the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to stage a football gala for secondary schools in Freetown Municipality.
The proposed tournament forms part of activities marking Sierra Leone’s 65th Independence Anniversary and is aimed at promoting a drug-free and violence-free school environment. According to campaign representatives, the initiative will use sports as a platform to raise awareness about the dangers of kush and other harmful substances affecting young people.
Before the official declaration of a state of emergency on harmful drugs by President Julius Maada Bio, the campaign team had already been conducting nationwide sensitisation programmes in schools and communities, distributing sporting equipment and engaging football associations.
During a meeting held on February 27, 2026, campaign leader Momoh Mann Kamara and his team presented their plans to the NSA, including a proposed Independence Day Football Gala targeting 16 secondary schools within Freetown.
In response, Dr. Abdulai welcomed the initiative, noting that it aligns with the NSA’s 2026 strategic priorities.
“Your initiative on the campaign against kush and other harmful drugs is exactly in line with NSA programmes for 2026,” he said. “My team stands ready to work with you to finalise modalities to roll out activities in the fight against harmful substances in the country, especially within sports.”
The collaboration signals a strengthened institutional approach to tackling drug abuse through structured sporting activities and youth engagement.