Banjul, Gambia (PANA) – An opposition politician in The Gambia has described the prison conditions in the West African nation as ”horrible” and called for measures to decongest the prisons in the country.
Leader of opposition National Reconciliation Party (NRP) Hamat Bak said that the prisons were overcrowded and lacked the necessary facilities, including mattresses and mosquito nets.
“We are aware that they are building extra cells in Jeshwang, about 10 mile outside Banjul, but that is not the solution. Some of these minor crimes – they are sending young people (if they catch them with marijuana) to five or ten years in jail – should be stopped,” he said.
Mr Bah said the lack of mosquito nets had exposed the inmates to malaria, which has killed several of them.
He said the reason the prisons are overcrowded is because many of “our young people” have been sent to prison for ten years or a fine of D500,000 (US$12,195) for possession of cannabis.
“Sending young people to ten years in jail is a serious concern because by the time they are released they will lose hope in life and will not know where to start.
“The issue of marijuana – some people have made a different theory about it. Today, in some parts of America, people are free to use marijuana for recreation purposes. So why do we have to imprison a young man for up to ten years for being in possession of one pack of cannabis – spoiling his whole life when the big cocaine dealers are all over the world destroying the world and escaping justice,” Bah said.
In April 2014, The Gambia Human Rights Network (GHRN) raised concerns over prison conditions in the West African country.
It submitted recommendations to the 20th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of The Gambia working group ahead of its review meetings slated for October-November this year.
GHRN said reports by human rights organisations indicated that prison conditions in The Gambia have “worsened” since the last periodic review in 2010.
According to Amnesty International, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been denied access to Gambia prisons since 2006.
The global rights body has recommended to the UPR for the government to allow independent human rights monitors access detention centres and as well improve conditions of prisons.
The Gambia has not ratified the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment.
