By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Rtd. AIG Morie Lengor Esq., conducted an insightful inspection tour of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS) ongoing construction projects March 25, 2025.
The tour covered the construction sites in Kissy Town and Waterloo, located in the Western Area Rural District. The facilities being developed aim to alleviate overcrowding in existing correctional centres and improve the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society.
Accompanied by senior staff of the SLCS, the minister was briefed by the Director General of the SLCS, Mr. Joseph Senesie, who provided a comprehensive overview of the ongoing projects. The new facilities include schools, training centers, detention cells for both male and female inmates, as well as accommodations for SLCS personnel.
The construction initiative is a crucial part of the government’s broader plan to modernize the country’s correctional services.
One of the primary goals of the new facilities is to reduce overcrowding, especially in the Pademba Road Male Correctional Centre, which has been struggling with capacity issues for years. “The overcrowding at the Pademba Road facility is one of the major challenges the SLCS faces,” said Mr. Senesie.
He further explained that the new facilities, once completed, would provide ample space for proper inmate management, enhancing both their rehabilitation and reintegration processes into society.
Mr. Senesie also highlighted the importance of the training centers and educational programs being integrated into the new facilities, to help to transform inmates, turning them from individuals incarcerated for crimes into productive, rehabilitated citizens capable of contributing positively to society once they serve their sentences.
However, during the inspection, the Director General raised concerns about the encroachment of the surrounding areas, noting that some individuals had begun building residential houses close to the construction sites, which could compromise the privacy and security of the correctional facilities in the future.
Minister Lengor, in his remarks, commended the efforts of the SLCS leadership and the ongoing construction projects, describing them as impressive and essential for the future of the correctional system.
He expressed his gratitude to His Excellency President Brig. Rtd Julius Maada Bio and Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, who also serves as the Chairman of the Correctional Council, for their continued support and commitment to enhancing SLCS. The Minister recognized their role in fulfilling the government’s Human Capital Development agenda, which prioritizes not only the improvement of the correctional system but also the broader socio-economic development of the country.
Minister Lengor reassured the Director General of the government’s support in ensuring that the SLCS receives the resources it needs.
He revealed plans to relocate the Pademba Road Male Correctional Center, which would alleviate some of the pressure on the current facilities. In addition, he pledged swift government intervention to address the encroachment issue, acknowledging the threat posed by the construction of dwelling houses around the facility.
He emphasized that the government would take proactive measures to ensure that the correctional centers remain secure and able to fulfill their mission of rehabilitation.
Concluding the tour, Minister Lengor applauded the Director General and the SLCS staff for their dedication and commitment to improving the correctional system, also urging the staff to work together as a team, promoting peace and a cooperative environment in the facilities to ensure that SLCS fulfills its role in transforming the lives of inmates and creating a safer society for all.
The inspection tour concluded with a group photo, marking a successful visit that highlighted the ongoing efforts to transform Sierra Leone’s correctional services into a more efficient and rehabilitative system.
