Gambia Covid-19 Pandemic Response: Barrow Frees 115 Prisoners

By Bakary Ceesay

As part of measures to curb COVID-19 and decongest prisons,  President Adama Barrow, in exercise of his Prerogative of Mercy, has immediately pardoned some 115 prisoners.

Seventy eight (78) of those inmates are from the Mile 2 State Central Prison in Banjul, twenty four (24) from Jeshwang prison within the Kanifing Municipality and thirteen (13) from Janjangbureh Prison in the Central River Region (CRR).

Ever since his coming to power in January 2017, President Barrow has consistently granted amnesty to prisoners. Soon after assuming office Barrow in a magnanimous gesture emptied Mile Prisons of all political detainees and prisoners some of whom were languishing behind the prison walls for decades without court appearance.

In the same spirit of caring for Gambians at home and abroad as well as non-Gambians resident in the country, President Barrow will unveil more COVID-19 relief programmes for citizens of The Gambia this weekend onwards.