By Mama A. Touray
Bob Keita Foundation and its partners on Thursday at Mile II Central Prison paid sixteen inmates fines worth D280,500.00 out of which fifteen inmates are male and one female.
Speaking at the event where the sixteen inmates were released at Mile II Prison, Bubacarr Keita, Founder and Chairman of the Bob Keita Foundation explained how the idea come about, and that he conceived the idea from the prison and when he was acquitted and discharged he decided to form a foundation to assist inmates.
He added that the foundation held a show on the 11th of June 2023 which was supported by several people especially people in the diaspora.
“When we contacted the director of prison services, he told us that it is not fair that the list has no woman and the minimum charge there to free a woman is seventy-eight thousand dalasi and it can free five or more boys but we decided to pay for one of our sister Fatou Jallow” he explained.
Prison, according to Bubacarr Keita, is supposed to be a place to reform people not to criminalize inmates and in the Gambia prison services, there are good officers “if you see that I come back here today it is because I have a very cordial relationship with them. But the system here is bad and this is not their fault. This is why I always call on the government to shut down the prison because it is not fit for its purpose. This is because if you get inside the prison you will be traumatized the facilities are bad.”
Keita however, told the inmates that he was contacted by GIEPA through the foundation that they want to train the released inmates with skills so that when they get back to society they will be engaged in something meaningful.
However, he said they will first give psychosocial support.
Executive Director of the National Youth Council, Alagie Jarjue said being in prison is caused by circumstances and now that they have freedom has been supported, they should work to correct what brought them to the prison.
Pupil Counsel at the Ministry of Justice, Odile Jassey, on behalf of the Justice Ministry also addressed the released inmates and as well advised them.
