Prisoners Alarm over Situation at the Gbarnga central prison

By Emmanuel Mafelah | GNN Western Liberia Correspondent |

Inmates detained at the Gbarnga Central Prison have expressed complete frustration and annoyance as a result of the over Crowdiness of the prison facility.

Some of the Inmates Speaking to our Bong County Contributor while behind bars stated that the prison is very over crowded causing serious embarrassment to them adding that they no longer have sufficient standing or sitting area in the cells.

They said even though they do not expect the prison to be comfortable like their homes, but they should be little bit satisfied because the prison centers are also meant for rehabilitation.

“We are facing major problems here; we urinate and do everything here. We are surviving by the grace of God, I don’t think any human being can survive here” Josiah Kerkulah, one of the Inmates age 30 who has been locked up for four years, facing a charge of robbery with violence –a capital offence told this Paper.

“Because of congestion, people here sleep pressed body to body and this body contact leads to these to many of encountering lots of sicknesses” Mr. Kerkulah noted.

According to him, their only fear at the moment is sickness adding that some of their colleagues currently have some unknown sicknesses which they might encounter as a result of the body contacts.

Also speaking on behalf of their colleagues, John Bokoh commonly known as “Double Trouble” stressed the need for the government to transfer them to the Grand Gedeh prison instead being kept in a very tiny cell here.

Mr. Boko who is serving twenty years imprisonment as a result of rape stated that the over crowdedness of the Gbarnga Prison center is a serious impediment to their lives.

He wants the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice to quickly intervene the appalling situation.

At the same time, one of the Rehabilitation Officers who requested anonymity claims that the Gbarnga central prison is the worst congested prison in the Country.

He confesses that the situation is even making their jobs harder.

When contacted by our Bong County Contributor about the prisoners concerns, Bong County Attorney Jonathan N. Flomo stated that he has concluded talks with the Ministry of Justice to ensure the transfer of long term convicts from Gbarnga central prison to the Grand Gedeh prison.

According to him, the ministry is only awaiting the dry season at which time the road to Grand Gedeh will be better for free movement of vehicles.

Att. Flomo stated that the Gbarnga Central Prison was build to host an estimated number of about one hundred and thirty prisoners but currently there are about two hundred prisoners at the center.

He wants the Inmates to remain calm as the Ministry looks forward to battling the over crowdedness of the Gbarnga Central Prison.

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