Admits The Problem Exists But Says Prison Authorities Don’t Have Right To Seal Prison Gates
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Justice Minister Cllr. Oswald Tweh has ordered authorities of the Monrovia Central Prison not to shut down the only prison facility in the Liberian capital, Monrovia due to overcrowding.
This prison, which was built to accommodate up to three hundred inmates, is now said to be seriously overcrowded, with the current population swelling to 1,541.
Cllr. Tweh has sharply reacted to recent announcement by the Monrovia Central Prison Superintendent to close the prison located on South Beach near the BTC Military barracks, stating that the prison cannot be closed to the public stating that the prison superintendent doesn’t have the right to close to shut down the prison.
Several days ago, Monrovia Central Prison Superintendent, Varney Lake announced closure of the prison facility due to the overcrowdings of the prison, the Ministry of Justice in its press release clarified that it had already resolved the subsistence issues prior to the media’s coverage of the situation.
Justice Minister Oswald Tweh alerted the public that the prison is open and has never been closed; adding that, the prison superintendent does not have the authority to close the prison gates or halt admissions.
On July 5, 2024, Mr. Lake wrote a letter to the office of the Acting County Attorney of Montserrado Alihaji Swahilo Sesay which was intended to bring to the attention that the overwhelming increment of inmate population at the facility with the capacity of 374 is challenged with accommodation of defendants in custody.
Lake mentioned that the feeding of inmates in custody has now reached an alarming stage and the prison is being owed 10 months Prison Subsistence Fund (PSF) for inmate feeding, “we have done all that we could to keep the prison open but as of tomorrow July 6, 2024 there is nothing in store to feed inmates in prison beside the Rice ration that is been supplied.”
The Prison Superintendent added: “In that regard, the prison authority is informing your office that starting Monday July 8, 2024 that the prison gates will be closed to new admission of defendants in our custody until the food crisis is address.”
“In view of the above, we anticipate that this communication be taken seriously because if not, this may cause a serious hindrance to the rule of law that we as a nation is playing low key,” Mr. Lake said.
With this, Min. Tweh said despite facing various challenges, the Government through the Ministry of Justice’s Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation (BCR), has successfully implemented a financial solution to address the subsistence issues at the prison facility as outlined in the ministry’s budget.
The release comes as a result of a communication dated July 5, 2024, from the Monrovia Prison Superintendent Varney Lake to the Acting County Attorney of Montserrado Alihaji Swahilo Sesay and the Director of Prisons S. Sainleseh Kwaidah at the Ministry of Justice, highlighting a significant increase in inmate population to 1,541.
The Justice Ministry in its press release quoted the superintendent that feeding the inmates has become increasingly challenging and issued an ultimatum for the prison to stop accepting new admissions as of July 8, 2024.
Min. Tweh said his Ministry is dedicated to upholding and enforcing the rule of law while protecting the rights of all residents and citizens, adhering to the highest international human rights standards.
Credible sources close to the presidency hinted this news outlet that President Joseph Nyumah Boakai blasted Min. Oswald Tweh for allowing the issue to go out of hand.