Ombudsman’s Office Recommends New Prisons Amid Allegations of Solitary Confinement in Banjul

The Office of the Ombudsman of The Gambia has recommended the construction of a new prison to ease congestion at Mile 2 and Janjanbureh Prisons.

Due to a backlog in submissions, the Office presented a combined 2023/2024 Annual Activity Report before the Finance and Public Accounts Committee. It revealed that Mile 2 Prison had three cells housing a total of 93 inmates – 41 remand prisoners and 52 convicted prisoners.

Similarly, at Janjanbureh Prison, the report disclosed that the facility had three cells accommodating 93 inmates, comprising 41 remand and 52 convicted prisoners.

The report followed monitoring visits to prisons across the country as part of the Office’s oversight of places of detention.

The Ombudsman recommended that inmate welfare be prioritised, with attention given to replacing old mattresses, providing fresh and nutritious food, improving healthcare facilities, and strengthening security and safety measures, among other concerns, to ensure the wellbeing of all inmates.

Meanwhile, during its visits to the prison cells, the Office alleged instances of confinement and mistreatment.

The report disclosed that an inmate claimed to have witnessed prison officers beating other inmates in 2023 and further alleged that, in some instances, he was informed that certain prisoners had been beaten and observed visible marks on them.

These concerns – along with issues relating to access to justice and contact with the outside world – were also presented before the Finance and Public Accounts Committee.

The Ombudsman’s Office further recommended that The Gambia Prison Service ensure prisoners are not beaten or ill-treated in any form by prison officers and that solitary confinement be avoided as much as possible.