Liberia’s Justice Minister Frank Musa Dean has warned that the Monrovia Central risk facing food shortage due to the over-crowdedness of Prison facilities across the country.
Speaking when he appeared before the members of the Liberia Senate Thursday February 9,2023 Minister Dean said for over two weeks prisoners have been eating dry rice something he attributed to financial constraints faced by the Justice Ministry.
Minister Dean informed the Senators about the need to construct new prison facility noting that the Monrovia Central Prison which was built to host 300 prisoners has long past the figure.
He said the Monrovia Central Prison popularly known as (salt beach) is now accommodating over 1,500.
It can be recalled in January of last year, a report of food shortage at the facility exposed the terrible conditions that have long existed in the country’s jails.
The lack of supplies affected all of the country’s 15 prisons, forcing two to stop taking any new inmates.
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 alleged of committing minor offenses were being sent back to their communities and kept under the watch of community leaders.
The latest revelation by the Minister indicates that the situation is far been solved.
Addressing concerns from senators about the over-crowdedness of prison facilities and the human rights consequences of keeping pre-trial detainees in such a bad condition, Minister Dean indicated that though it is important to protect humanity, the ministry is also under obligation to ensure the rights of inmates are protected, including the right to eat.
He at same time informed members of the upper champers of the Liberian Legislature about the financial constraints at the Liberian National Police and the need to provide improved incentives for officers.
Minister Dean revealed that a normal police officer earns $135 per month and that the police force has to rely on personal funds to purchase uniforms.
The problems were first highlighted in 2011 when Amnesty released a picture of several inmates from inside Monrovia Central Prison, but the poor condition of prison facilities across the country continue to worsen on the daily basics.
