Liberia’s biggest prison launches agriculture training for inmates

Grand Gedeh County, Liberia – UN Deputy Envoy, Ms. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu has described an agricultural pilot project for inmates at the National Palace of Corrections “as a bold step towards institutionalizing active programs for rehabilitation of inmates.” Ms. Mensa-Bonsu made this statement at the weekend, at the launch of the project by the Minister of Justice in Zwedru, the provincial capital of southeastern Grand Gedeh County, located on the border with Cote d’Ivoire. The program sets the basis for the development of an efficient and effective rehabilitation and reintegration program for prisoners.    

The Minister of Justice, Counsellor-at-Law Philip Banks cited his coordination with the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) for the Rule of Law and the support and encouragement provided to the rule of law sector, as the foremost blessing to his tenure as Minister of Justice. Cllr. Philip Banks highlighted the pilot project as a direct example of such encouragement, explaining how the idea for the project had originated from a DSRSG-initiated visit to correctional facilities in Ghana operating successful agricultural programmes. Minister Banks expressed his hope that the project would be merely the beginning of rehabilitation projects in correctional facilities in Liberia and that it would prove beneficial for the inmates and the facility and assist in the inmates’ successful rehabilitation into society on their release. The Minister assured corrections officers during the visit that the Ministry of Justice could be called upon for assistance at any time but warned that absence from duty or harassment of inmates would not be tolerated.    

The DSRSG for Rule of Law expressed her view that: “The farming initiative is a first step on the long road towards achieving some measure of rehabilitation for those serving terms of imprisonment in correctional facilities."  Under the pilot phase of this project, prison inmates will be taught farming skills on land inside the National Palace of Corrections (NCP), and the food they will grow will supplement their rations.

Underscoring the need for rehabilitation of inmates as productive citizens, Ms. Mensa-Bonsu urged the communities around the prison to purchase the prison's excess crops. "This will not only encourage the inmates to grow more, but would provide necessary funds to the Corrections Palace to improve the quality of life of the inmates," she added. To the inmates, the DSRSG advised: "there is dignity in labor; the sense of achievement and material benefits it will produce will ensure that your stay at this facility would be a watershed in your life."

The project is an initiative of the Ministry of Justice, with support provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), and non-governmental organizations such as German Agro Action and Catholic faith-based Caritas. Also attending the ceremony were Liberia's Assistant Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation, Ms. Fatumata Sheriff, Grand Gedeh County Superintendent Christopher Bailey, the Chief of UNMIL Corrections Advisory Unit, Ms. Marjo Callaghan, and an array of local and UNMIL officials.

This support is crucial for strengthening the development of rehabilitation which is an integral part of the mandate of the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation (BCR) of Liberia’s Ministry of Justice. The efforts of the BCR shall contribute to the security, growth and development of Liberia by striving to change offenders’ behaviour by training, rehabilitating and counselling in order to help them lead law-abiding self sustainable lives after their release.