Sierra Leone prison overcrowding highlighted by former Attorney-General

Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara has shared insights into the Sierra Leonean prison system following his recent experience as an inmate at the Male Correctional Centre at Pademba Road.

Kamara highlights severe overcrowding in the national prison system, noting that facilities designed for approximately 2,000 people currently hold more than 5,000 inmates. He observes that the majority of those incarcerated are remand detainees who have not been convicted and are awaiting trial due to significant judicial delays.

Reflecting on his tenure as Attorney-General, Kamara noted previous efforts to address these issues, including securing the release of hundreds of individuals held on flimsy charges or without indictment in coordination with the Legal Aid Board. He emphasizes that the experience of incarceration provides a different perspective on how legal delays impact human lives.