Hon. Modou Lamin Bah, the National Assembly Member for Banjul North
By Ramatoulie Jawo
Hon. Modou Lamin Bah, National Assembly Member for Banjul North, called for urgent government intervention on Wednesday, emphasizing the need for increased efforts to combat the rising use of Kush among Gambian youth.
Addressing the National Assembly during a motion session focused on the prevalence of Kush in The Gambia, Hon. Bah highlighted the drug’s detrimental impact on society.
“I rise to speak on a very concerning issue: KUSH, a potent and highly addictive drug, that has become a growing scourge in our beloved nation, The Gambia. The alarming rise in the prevalence of this illicit and toxic substance has not only claimed the lives of countless young people but has also fueled a disturbing surge in crime and mental health disorders across the country,” he said.
Referring to recent reports, Hon. Bah noted over 100 reported Kush-related cases, including fatalities among young users.
“The distribution and consumption of Kush have become deeply entrenched in Gambia’s social fabric, with criminal networks exploiting the vulnerabilities of the youth and capitalizing on the lack of robust government control mechanisms,” he started.
He criticized the Ministry of Interior for insufficient measures in curbing the crisis, leaving communities to confront its devastating consequences alone.
“The recent country situation report shared by the National Taskforce for Drug and Substance Abuse KUSH on the 24th day of June 2024 exhibits the following: firstly, that in the recent three weeks, nineteen (19) clinical cases have been reported by health facilities, causing a current total of one hundred and thirteen (113) cases, showing a 20% increase. Seven new associated suspected deaths from Kush have also been recorded, causing the total to eleven (11) with a case fatality rate of 9.7%.,” he started.
Hon. Bah emphasized the urgency of addressing this growing issue, especially its impact on Gambian youth.
“The situation with the drug that is Kush is scary, and we need to tirelessly find a solution to get rid of this nightmare. Let us keep in mind that every day that goes by, the use of the substance increases and will get worse if not mitigated immediately. The impact of Kush on Gambian society is deeply disturbing. Our young people, often the,” he said
He noted that, exacerbating the issue, the rise in crimes associated with Kush has stretched the country’s already limited law enforcement capabilities to their breaking point. Incidents such as burglaries, violent assaults, and even homicides have seen a troubling uptick, driven by users resorting to drastic measures in pursuit of their next dose.
“The time for action is now. The future of Gambia’s youth, the stability of our communities, and the well-being of its citizens depend on the government’s ability to confront this crisis head-on. Failure to do so will only lead to the further unraveling of the social fabric and the perpetuation of a cycle of addiction, crime, and despair in our beloved country,” he said.
After introducing the motion, the speaker invited members to discuss the issue. During his remarks, Hon. Abdoulie Ceesay, representing the National Assembly for the former Yundum constituency, urged his colleagues to plan weekend events and conduct extensive awareness campaigns on the use of Kush.
“The sensitization should start with us, so that they see the seriousness from the legislative arms. We represent the people, so we should go back to our constituency and do a massive sensitization on the usage of Kush among the young people. All the figures mentioned by the Nam for Banjul North are accurate, and nobody will deny the fact because these things are happening, but what can we do? Should we sit and blame the government for not doing much No, we also have a responsibility and the responsibility we have is to do more sensitization across the country,” he highlighted.
Meanwhile, Hon. Yaya Sanyang of Latri Kunda Sabiji criticized the government’s response in the recent State of the Nation Address, highlighting the ministries’ failure to address Kush as a critical public health and security issue.
“What is more disappointing is that the President has spoken in the SONA the Ministry Of Health could not give the President a simple statement about Kush, knowing that Kush is a public health disaster. The ministry of youth could not also give any statement to the president; know that the users of these drugs are youth, and even the ministry of interior, because this is a security threat to the country,” he said.
Hon. Amie Colley, the National Assembly member representing Foni Berefet, emphasized the need for parents to remain vigilant in safeguarding their children’s lives. Additionally, she called upon the government to provide robust support to the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, ensuring they effectively fulfill their duties.