By Patrick Stephen Tokpah
/BONG
The superintendent of the Gbarnga Central Prison, Gbolomen Korto Siakor has again decried the overcrowding of the facility in Bong County.
Madam Siakor said the maximum capacity of the prison is 130 prisoners, but the current population stands at 320, thereby jeopardizing the safety and well-being of both inmates and correctional officers assigned to the Gbarnga Central Prison in the County.
The Gbarnga Central Prison Superintendent attributed the overcrowding to the backlog of cases and the alleged abandonment of legal proceedings by complainants.
She then called for the immediate intervention of the Ministry of Justice to expedite the trial process for pre-trial detainees to reduce congestion and restore order to the prison environment.
According to her, the Gbarnga Central Prison has exceeded its normal capacity.
“We have 320 inmates in here; out of this number, we have 206 male pre-trial detainees, 97 male judged and convicted of the crime, 7 female pre-trial detainees, 6 judged and convicted of the crime, 2 juvenile pre-trial detainees, 1 judged and convicted of the crime, and 1 female pre-trial detainee.
The normal capacity of this facility is 130. We want to appeal to our partners for assistance,” she added.
The superintendent of the Gbarnga central prison described the overcrowding of the prison as a serious challenge to the overall operations of the facility.
Madam Siakor noted that the entity, over the years, strived to ensure that the rights of prisoners, including pre-trial detainees are observed, but said effort had been hindered by factors such as overcrowding, logistical constraints, as well as the slow pace of investigation and prosecution, leading to prolonged stay in pre-trial detention.
She further revealed that of the three hand pumps constructed on the compounds of the prison facility, two are currently damaged, thereby hindering the issue of safe drinking water for the inmates.
Madam Siakor made the statement on May 10, 2025, in Gbarnga, when Students from the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Science and Humanity, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and the Criminology University of Liberia toured the Gbarnga Central Prison and donated two cartons of sanitary pads to females inmates at the facility in Bong County.
However, the president of the students from the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Science and Humanity, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and Criminology, University of Liberia, Roseline C. Daniels, lauded the Superintendent of the Gbarnga Central Prison for the level of work done in maintaining the inmates.
Mr. Taynue J. Summoh, a lecturer at the University of Liberia, said the tour was intended to acquaint the CRIM 301 students who are studying Penology, Punishment, and Rehabilitation with the operations of the prisons.
The University of Liberia lecturer further expressed excitement over the work of Superintendent Gbolomen Korto Siakor at the facility.
He pledged to deepen collaboration and explore new avenues of partnership for students who are studying at the Amos C Sawyer College, stressing the need for innovative solutions and cohesive efforts to advance Liberia’s development aspirations.
