The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has uncovered serious security concerns in Sierra Leone’s correctional facilities, highlighting the lack of functioning surveillance systems in key centres across the Western Area.
The findings emerged during an ongoing audit of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS), led by the Principal Auditor, Mohamed Mustapha.
The audit, grounded in the Sierra Leone Correctional Service Act of 2014, mandates the Director General to oversee operational control, administration, and supervision of all inmates.
However, Mustapha reported that an inspection conducted on February 2, 2023, revealed critical lapses. Notably, the New England Female and Reintegration Centre and the Waterloo Pretrial Centre have no Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems, while the CCTV system at the Pademba Road Male Correctional Centre was found to be nonfunctional.
Mustapha raised concerns that without working surveillance, correctional facilities face heightened risks, including inmate violence, staff misconduct, trafficking of contraband, and theft.
In the absence of operational CCTV, identifying culprits in case of security breaches become nearly impossible, compromising safety and accountability.
“The lack of functional CCTV at these centres poses a significant security risk,” Mustapha stated. He urged immediate action to install and maintain surveillance systems at all correctional facilities, along with handheld scanners at entry points for staff and visitor screening.
He also recommended assigning dedicated staff to monitor the systems to detect and respond to any inappropriate behavior by inmates, staff, or visitors. Those actions, he emphasized, would greatly improve overall security.
Colonel Sahr David Thomas Ngaujah, Deputy Director General of the SLCS, addressed the committee, acknowledging the lack of fully functional surveillance systems but noting that some CCTV devices had been installed in both male and female cells.
He said while those are not yet fully operational, the Office of National Security (ONS) and SLCS control rooms are monitoring some areas of the facilities. Ngaujah added that the Freetown Male Correctional Centre also has a handheld scanner and confirmed that efforts are underway to extend this equipment to other facilities when funding allows.
Mustapha reiterated the importance of having functional CCTV and professional visitor screening in all correctional centres. He emphasized that these measures are essential to prevent misconduct and ensure the security of both inmates and staff.
The committee resolved to conduct its own site visit soon to verify the status of these systems and to assess security conditions directly.
