By: Saidu Jalloh
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Retired AIG Morie Lengor Esq., has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inmate rehabilitation and prison reform during a recent inspection visit to the Mafanta Correctional Centre in Bombali District. The visit was facilitated by the Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS), under the leadership of Director General Joseph J. Senesie and Deputy Director General Madam Susan B.C. Coker.
At the center of the visit was an extensive tour of the Centre’s agricultural initiatives, including rice, corn, and cassava farms, along with a thriving piggery and cattle ranch. These programs actively engage inmates in productive labor, contributing to rehabilitation efforts and aligning with the national “Feed Salone” agenda. DG Senesie highlighted the potential of these initiatives to reduce dependency on government funding and called for greater investment and mechanization to scale the programs commercially.
Minister Lengor commended the SLCS leadership and staff for their dedication to improving prison conditions and fostering a culture of professionalism, fairness, and respect for inmate dignity. He emphasized the importance of teamwork among correctional officers and reiterated his ministry’s commitment to supporting reforms aimed at upgrading infrastructure and enhancing rehabilitation services.
In addition to the agricultural projects, the Minister visited vocational training workshops where inmates are learning skills such as tailoring and carpentry. These programs are designed to aid reintegration into society and reduce recidivism. Minister Lengor expressed optimism that sustained investment in such initiatives could transform correctional facilities from punitive institutions into productive centers that contribute to national development.
A significant highlight of the visit was the Minister’s stop at Rolako Village in Makari Chiefdom, which has been identified as a potential relocation site for the overcrowded Pademba Road Correctional Centre. Paramount Chief Bai Makari N’kolo welcomed the proposal, calling it a historic opportunity for regional development and pledging the community’s full support.
The Mafanta visit formed part of a broader regional tour by Minister Lengor to correctional facilities in the North East, including stops in Magburaka and Makeni. The goal of the tour was to deliver a message of hope to inmates and reaffirm the government’s commitment to humane and secure detention standards.
Hon. Ibrahim Jalloh, Resident Minister for the North East Region, who accompanied the delegation, emphasized the critical role of agriculture in correctional reform. He thanked community leaders and SLCS staff for their collaboration in advancing both food security and inmate rehabilitation.
Deputy DG Susan Coker highlighted the importance of skill-building programs supported by both the government and development partners. She revealed plans to introduce poultry farming as part of a broader strategy to ensure correctional self-reliance. According to her, these initiatives are vital to equipping inmates with the tools necessary for economic independence upon their release.
The tour concluded with an inspection of the ongoing construction of the Waterloo Correctional Centre in the Western Area Rural District. Concerns about illegal encroachment near the site were raised, prompting Minister Lengor to assure stakeholders of swift government action to protect correctional infrastructure and uphold public safety.
The visit underscored a new direction in Sierra Leone’s correctional system one focused on empowerment, sustainability, and national development through transformative and humane strategies.