The Prince and Tewah Woods foundation, a humanitarian and non-governmental group, is encouraging all hands on deck if drugs must be, if not totally eradicated, but mitigated from the Liberian soil.
As drug continues to penetrate the youthful circle of Liberia, the foundation through its Executive Director, Prince Woods, implored Liberian mothers and particularly stakeholders to wake-up and do something swift in saving the next breed of leaders from such deadly substance.
Speaking yesterday during an anti-drug awareness program in Monrovia, Woods opined that with the current level at which drugs have hurt the country, it should draw more collective attention in handling the matter and not to politicize the fight.
“This drug menace has seriously hurt this country and is still hurting us, if we do not forget politicizing everything and stand up to rescue our young people, I am afraid to say, we are going nowhere,” Woods maintained.
Furthermore, speaking to the more than hundred young people who were in attendance, Woods used the time to discouraged them from taking in “Kush” (drugs), and focus more on how they can be useful to the development agenda of Liberia.
“Kush,” is a harmful drug which has taken over the country leaving thousands of young Liberians seen helplessly sleeping or leaping on the various streets of Monrovia and its environs.
Continuing in his anti-drug statement to the young people, Woods reminded the young people that they are the future of the nation and that Liberia depends on them something they should not trade for drugs.
“This country depend on you the young people, so, you should not allow yourself to fall prey to the deadly results of Kush, because it will not help you,” he noted.
He said it troubles his heart when he moves through the streets of Monrovia and other parts, to see young people who should be a blessing to the nation are now becoming a curse, something he doesn’t feel good to mention.
According to him, Liberia will never improve and have a future if the youthful generation fate is at risk and looming by kush.
The anti-drugs program which was organized by the movement to promote positive impact (MOPPI) and sponsor by the Prince and Tewah Woods foundation brought together over 200 persons inclusive of both young people and their parents.
The ceremony saw young people translating anti-drugs message through songs and also having five minutes each to present their case on why drug should be collectively fought and how it is washing away a whole generation.
After the ceremony, the foundation presented cash prizes including scholarships to both winners and participants of the program, leaving smile on the faces of parents and guardians.
The program was organized to also showcase the talent of young people through entertainment and divert their attention from drug addiction.
In July 2023, former President George Weah signed into law the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2023, commonly called the Drug Law.
The former Liberian leader signed the bill into law after it was passed by the Liberian Legislature following months of deliberations.
According to numerous reports, Liberia has one of the highest rates of drug use in West Africa, with cannabis and heroin being the most commonly used, and males are more likely to use drugs than their female counterparts.
It is estimated that two in ten youths in Liberia are users of narcotic substances, to sustain the desire and use of narcotic drugs, these young people who live in ghettos, street corners, and cemeteries often resort to crime, including armed robberies.
On January 29, 2024, Liberian current President Joseph Boakai during his first state of the nation address, declared Drugs and Substance abuse as a Public Health Emergency.
He at the same time established a multi-sectorial steering committee comprising the Ministry of Health as Chair, Ministry of Justice Co-Chair, Ministry of Youth and Sports- Member, Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection member.
Others include: the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA); member and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) as member, the President was to start a vigorous planning action against such menace which is gradually sweeping away the future of the Country.
In his first state of the nation address President Boakai has committed his fullest support and energy towards the fight against the deadly drug epidemic in Liberia.
He also along with his vice president, took the lead as the first to have taken the drug test, an action he described as a clearer indication of his government seriousness in tackling the current unfortunate situation the country is confronted with.
With what is happening now on the fight against drugs and the overwhelming challenges to get rid of this deadly substance, one can only hope that the efforts made by others including both past and current governments and now the Prince and Tewah Woods foundation, that this situation can be brought at an appreciable level.
