The event brought together representatives from member countries, relevant stakeholders including law enforcement agencies to address the urgent issue of drug abuse in The Gambia and the region as a whole.
The meeting featured a series of informative presentations by the Drug Law Enforcement of The Gambia, and interactive discussions aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and the legal ramifications of trafficking. Participants engaged in dialogue about the increasing prevalence of drug-related issues in The Gambia and explored potential strategies for prevention and intervention.
Addressing the participants, the ECOWAS Permanent Representative in The Gambia, Miatta Lilly French, emphasised the importance of good neighbourliness from ECOWAS citizens in The Gambia. “If we’ve decided to make this our home, then we cannot be seen wanting to do anything to cause problem,” she pointed out.
On the issue of drug abuse and trafficking, the ECOWAS top diplomat described the topic as serious and dangerous saying, “we do not want this to escalate beyond what it has gotten to at the moment and we do not want as foreign citizens to be blamed for the problem.”
Meanwhile, the President of ECOWAS Citizens in The Gambia, Michel Pokpaye Kuivogui expressed concerns on the rate of drug abuse and trafficking while calling for concerted efforts to address the problem.
“We’ve seen some very strange videos on what drug is doing to people,” The ECOWAS Citizens’ President said. “If you talk about security in the sub-region, you cannot undermine drug, so please, the message we are going to receive here, and our role are to convey them to our people”
The event concluded with a call to action, urging participants to take the information back to their communities and foster a collective effort against drug abuse. ECOWAS Citizens expressed their commitment to continuing such initiatives, highlighting the need for ongoing support and collaboration among stakeholders.
