Pharmacy Board engages Traditional Leaders in Port Loko District on Bye-Law against drug peddling

Pharmacy Board engages Traditional Leaders in Port Loko District on Bye-Law against drug peddling

9 April 2026

The Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone (PBSL) has stepped up its nationwide campaign against drug peddling engaging traditional authorities in Port Loko District to replicate the successful bye-law model introduced in Nongowa Chiefdom.

At two separate engagements with stakeholders from Maforki and Bakeh-Loko Chiefdoms paramount chiefs and local leaders expressed strong commitment to drafting similar bye-laws and forwarding them to the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone for review.

Addressing the gatherings the Deputy Registrar of the PBSL Dr Mohamed Sesay underscored the institution’s responsibility to regulate medicines and protect public health. 

He emphasized that while government support is crucial the role of citizens and local authorities is equally important in ensuring safe drug practices.

He raised alarm over the activities of drug peddlers describing them as individuals driven by profit who often mishandle medicines by exposing them to harsh conditions such as direct sunlight.

According to him such practices can render medicines harmful turning what should heal into potential poison.

Despite sustained enforcement efforts he noted that drug peddling remains a major challenge prompting the Board to collaborate more closely with traditional leaders. 

He pointed to the Nongowa Chiefdom initiative as a successful pilot where locally developed bye-laws have helped curb the menace.

Adding to this Pharmacist Tamba Buffa Head of the Distribution Chain Inspection Department recalled earlier engagements in Kenema District including the crackdown on illegal drugs such as tramadol. 

He explained that the idea of bye-laws originated from local chiefs themselves and was strengthened through broad stakeholder consultations public sensitization campaigns and street rallies.

Stakeholders in Port Loko welcomed the initiative acknowledging the growing threat of drug peddling within their communities.

Speaking on behalf of her husband Paramount Chief Bai Forki Fainka II of Maforki Chiefdom Mrs. Foki Fainka II who has over 19 years of medical experience in the United States expressed concern over the widespread sale of unregulated medicines particularly by unqualified individuals.

She noted that many of these peddlers lack even basic education yet sell drugs while making false claims about their effectiveness. 

She recounted instances where such individuals misled community members only to plead for leniency when confronted by authorities.

Mrs. Fainka further disclosed that her Chiefdom had already taken steps to address the issue by engaging section chiefs and raising awareness on the dangers of drug peddling. 

She assured the Pharmacy Board of their full support stating that existing communication structures within the Chiefdom would make it easier to educate communities and enforce the proposed bye-laws.

She also raised concern about the rapid increase in unregulated drug outlets and the common practice of purchasing medicines without prescriptions.

Echoing similar sentiments Paramount Chief Adikali Melba Opapa III of Bakeh-Loko Chiefdom described drug peddling as a serious threat to public health and pledged support for the initiative.

Reinforcing the urgency of the situation the Deputy Registrar warned that the misuse of medicines could be even more dangerous than commonly discussed substances stressing that “the difference between medicine and poison is the dose.” 

He emphasized that while the Pharmacy Board has the legal mandate meaningful success can only be achieved through collaboration with local authorities.

He encouraged the chiefdoms to take ownership of the process by developing their own bye-laws assuring them of the Board’s technical support in implementation. In the meantime he granted local authorities the backing to take action against individuals selling medicines in unauthorized places such as markets vehicles and open spaces.

With both chiefdoms agreeing to draft and submit their bye-laws the initiative marks a growing grassroots response to drug peddling. 

In attendance was the Officer in Charge of PBSL Office in the Northern Region Pharmaciest Sulaiman Kanu and his deputy.

The Pharmacy Board hopes that replicating the Nongowa model across the country will significantly reduce the circulation of unsafe medicines and protect communities from preventable harm.

For more information:

Information and Communication Department 

PBSL