By: Aminata Sesa
In a concerted effort to safeguard the rights and dignity of inmates in Sierra Leone’s correctional facilities, the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, led by Chairman Hon. Dr. Unpha Sorie G. Koroma, conducted unannounced inspections of the Mafanta and Makeni Correctional Centres on August 26 and 27, 2025.
The surprise visit was part of the committee’s constitutional mandate to assess the conditions of the country’s prisons, identify systemic shortcomings, and ensure that prisoners’ fundamental rights are protected. Speaking during the inspection, Hon. Dr. Koroma emphasized that the exercise was not intended to identify faults but to foster transparency, accountability, and improvement within the correctional system.
At the Mafanta Correctional Centre in Magburaka, Tonkolili District, the committee met with Acting Regional Commander Momoh Fatorma and Officer in Charge Momodu Sillah. Commander Fatorma provided historical context for the facility, noting that it was initially built in 1954 to house political prisoners and officially began operations in 1958. The centre occupies a 573-acre plot donated by the local community of Mafanta.
Despite its infrastructural limitations, the facility runs agricultural and skills development programs aimed at rehabilitating inmates. Currently, 96 inmates are engaged in farming activities and receive a daily stipend of sixty new leones. Officer Sillah also mentioned that many inmates are being trained in trades such as carpentry, tailoring, and shoemaking, which are essential for their eventual reintegration into society.
The committee also inspected the religious and health facilities within the centre. Both a mosque and a church are available, allowing inmates to practice their faith freely, guided by appointed religious leaders. The facility also has a clinic staffed by State Enrolled Community Health Nurse, Alpha Sesay, who provides basic healthcare services. Over 50 inmates with hernia cases have been identified as needing surgical intervention.
However, the inspection revealed several critical challenges. The facility is plagued by chronic food shortages, particularly rice and flour, due to delays in the quarterly supply system. Additionally, the centre suffers from a complete lack of electricity infrastructure, with no poles or transformers, leaving the facility without power, which significantly impacts operations and inmate welfare.
Inmates also voiced concerns about the limited access to formal education. While some expressed interest in pursuing tertiary or vocational training, particularly those who hold BECE and WASSCE certificates, such opportunities remain scarce.
At the Makeni Correctional Centre, Officer in Charge Kenneth A. K. Kelly highlighted some positive developments resulting from partnerships with local institutions. Notably, the facility has collaborated with the University of Makeni (UniMak), which enabled 25 inmates to graduate with qualifications in development studies, entrepreneurship, and community development. The number of graduates is expected to rise to 70 by the end of 2025, demonstrating a successful model for rehabilitation through education.
Despite some operational limitations, the Makeni facility is emerging as a positive example of correctional reform, driven by collaboration between institutions to support inmate development.
The inspections by the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights have highlighted the contrasting realities within Sierra Leone’s correctional centres, where efforts toward rehabilitation and the dignity of inmates coexist with significant infrastructural neglect and systemic shortcomings. Hon. Dr. Koroma reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to advocating for reforms that ensure correctional facilities are not places of despair but institutions of transformation.
As Sierra Leone continues its journey towards upholding human rights and prison reform, such oversight visits underscore a growing political will to improve the conditions of incarcerated individuals and restore faith in the justice system.