MONROVIA – Justice Minister Cllr. Frank Musa Dean has informed members of the Liberian Senate about the current state of the country’s security sector during a recent appearance. He spoke about the overcrowding of the Monrovia Central Prison and the fact that prisoners have been eating dry rice for the past two weeks due to financial constraints faced by the Justice Ministry. The minister also emphasized the need for a new prison facility as the current one was built to hold only 300 prisoners but is now accommodating over 1,500, which is beyond its capacity.
By Henry Karmo, [email protected]
Minister Dean also addressed concerns raised by senators about the over-crowdedness of prison facilities and the human rights implications of keeping pre-trial detainees in such conditions. He stated that while it is important to protect the society, the ministry also has a duty to ensure the prisoners’ rights, including the right to be fed are met.
The Minister further informed the Senators about the financial constraints faced by the Liberian National Police and the need to motivate officers by providing improved incentives. He revealed that an average police officer earns only $135 per month and that the police force has to rely on personal funds to purchase uniforms.
In December 2022, Minister Dean announced that prisoners were being turned away due to overcrowding and fears of a disease outbreak. He stated that those accused of minor offenses were being returned to their communities and kept under the watch of community leaders. However, local media reports suggested that prison guards were refusing to admit new inmates due to a strike over delayed salaries, which prison officials have denied.
The Monrovia Central Prison was built to accommodate 300 inmates when the population of Monrovia was 300,000. It now holds over 1,600 inmates in a city of 1.5 million people, highlighting the urgent need for a new facility to address the current overcrowding and to ensure the protection of prisoners’ rights.
