Freetown Mayor Under Scrutiny: Ministry Demands Evidence on Kush-Related Deaths

Freetown Mayor Under Scrutiny: Ministry Demands Evidence on Kush-Related Deaths

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs has formally requested evidence from Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr concerning her recent assertion that 220 fatalities in the city are attributable to the use of the drug Kush.

A letter, dated 9 October 2025, was delivered to the Mayor’s office the following day, referencing comments she made on AYV Television around 7 October. Mayor Aki-Sawyerr had stated that by that date, the Freetown City Council had collected 220 bodies citywide believed to have died as a result of Kush consumption.

The Ministry expressed concern that the statement could potentially incite public alarm and negatively affect ongoing government efforts to mitigate the Kush crisis in Sierra Leone. Consequently, the Mayor was mandated to provide comprehensive supporting documentation within five working days.

Specifically, the Ministry requested a complete roster of the 220 deceased individuals, detailing the locations and dates where the bodies were discovered. They also required medical or post-mortem reports to substantiate that Kush was the cause of death. Furthermore, the Mayor was asked to clarify the legal basis under which the Freetown City Council conducted the recovery and investigation of the bodies.

The correspondence was signed by M. Thuray, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, and distributed to other principal government officials, including the Minister of Health, the Inspector General of Police, and the Chief Minister. The Ministry underscored the necessity for local council efforts concerning public health to be evidence-based and harmonised with central government agencies.

This is not the first instance where Mayor Aki-Sawyerr has raised alarms about Kush-related deaths in the city. In a September letter to the Minister of Internal Affairs, she reported the collection of 142 bodies between January and mid-August 2025, with an additional 32 bodies collected in the subsequent month. To manage the increasing volume of unattended and unidentified remains, the City Council had previously established a burial team equipped with essential resources for body transport and handling.

As the response deadline approaches, focus is directed toward Mayor Aki-Sawyerr to furnish the mandated documentation. The Ministry has indicated that a failure to substantiate the claims with evidence will lead to the implementation of necessary steps in line with government policy.

This development signifies a period of heightened tension between municipal and national authorities as the country continues to grapple with the escalating social and public health impact of Kush use across communities.