The annual Mano River Union Civil Peace Service (MRUCPS) Conference is being hosted in Liberia, focusing on the urgent need to address drug and substance abuse in the region.
The three-day conference began on October 29, 2024, at Riverside Resort and Villa on Bushrod Island, drawing representatives from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and international partners.
The event underscores the escalating crisis of drug abuse impacting the Mano River Union (MRU) communities and aims to build resilient, drug-free environments.
Organized by the Civil Peace Service Networks of Liberia and Sierra Leone, the conference operates under the theme, “Working in Partnership to Combat Drugs and Substance Abuse in Liberia and Sierra Leone to Build Resilient Communities in the MRU.”
It features prominent figures such as Dr. Christopher Wleh Toe of the Liberia Council of Churches, Decontee E. George of Bread for the World, and Morris Kamara, Sr. of the YMCA, all uniting in the fight against substance abuse.
In a keynote address, Ambassador Abigail Karneh, Founder of the Alliance for Peace, Justice, and Human Rights in Liberia, highlighted the critical need for united action.
She described drug abuse as an “invisible war” that ravages communities, particularly affecting the youth. Citing the story of Kofi, a young man from Freetown whose life was devastated by addiction, Karneh called on the Presidents of Liberia and Sierra Leone to declare drug abuse a national emergency and form a joint committee to tackle this crisis.
Karneh also urged donors and international partners to invest in grassroots organizations operating in high-risk areas, emphasizing their pivotal role in combating addiction.
“These local entities are deeply connected to our struggles and can bring impactful change,” she said. The event welcomed international delegates, including Madam Sybille Frideres of Bread for the World (BFTW) in Berlin, AGIAMONDO representatives, and Konneh Don Toka, Sierra Leone’s Defense Attaché to Liberia.
Frideres highlighted the significance of resilience amid political and economic shifts, noting the increased challenges of isolationism and reduced funding for international cooperation. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, she urged participants to remember that “peace is the way” and encouraged continued advocacy for partnership and social unity.
Sierra Leone’s Defense Attaché, Konneh Don Toka, speaking on behalf of Ambassador Eddie Sidikie Massally, stressed the collective responsibility in combating drug abuse. He called for a multifaceted approach involving education, prevention, and rehabilitation to address the issue.
As the conference progresses, delegates are expected to outline
strategies to curb substance abuse in the MRU, strengthening communities and working towards a safer future.
