Judge urges construction of new national prison to ease overcrowding

Published: August 11, 2025

MONROVIA — Criminal Court B Judge Wesseh A. Wesseh on Monday called on the Executive Branch, through the Ministry of Justice, to construct a new national prison facility to address what he described as “stressful and appalling” conditions in Liberia’s overcrowded detention centers.

Speaking on behalf of Criminal Courts A, B, C, D, and E during the formal opening of the August term of court at the Temple of Justice, Wesseh said prison congestion remains a major problem in the justice system, with inadequate facilities creating inhumane conditions for inmates.

He cited Gbarpolu County’s prison, built under a UNMIL quick-impact project for 38–47 inmates, now housing about 100 prisoners, including pretrial detainees. In Margibi County, he said, prisoners sleep in shifts due to a lack of space, while in Grand Bassa County, 15–16 inmates were once reported to be sleeping in a bathroom.

As of July 31, 2025, Liberia held 2,181 pretrial detainees and 1,159 convicts nationwide, figures Wesseh said may be lower than neighboring countries but still highlight the severity of overcrowding.

“Obnoxious prison conditions with inmates crammed into dilapidated and unsafe structures create unbearable conditions,” Wesseh said. “These remarks are not meant to downplay our prison population, but to highlight the stressful conditions caused by congestion and the lack of proper care, rehabilitation, and welfare for inmates.”

Wesseh joined incoming Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, who during his Senate confirmation hearing also called for the construction of a new national prison to decongest facilities, particularly the Palace of Correction in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County.

He further cautioned that prolonged pretrial detention violates Article 21(e) of the 1986 Constitution, which outlines the rights of individuals awaiting trial.

In a separate note, Wesseh paid tribute to outgoing Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh for her confidence in assigning him to several judicial circuits during her tenure. He praised her legal acumen, transformative reforms, and progressive opinions, saying her leadership left “an indelible print in the annals of the Liberian judiciary.”