The Ministry of Justice has denied media reports alleging that authorities at the Monrovia Central Prison were no longer receiving inmates due to overcrowding of the facility and the shortage of essential food and non-food items.

In a release dated July 10, 2024 under the signature of Charles G. Helb, Jr; Acting Director of Press and Public Affairs, the Ministry clarify that the Monrovia Central Prison (MCP) is open and has never been closed.

“Despite facing various challenges, the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Justice’s Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation (BCR), has successfully implemented a financial solution to address the subsistence issues at the Monrovia Central Prison, as outlined in the Ministry’s budget,” the Ministry noted in the release.

According to the Ministry, this announcement follows a communication dated July 5, 2024, from the Monrovia Prison Superintendent to the County Attorney of Montserrado County and the Director of Prisons at the Ministry of Justice, highlighting a significant increase in inmate population to 1,541; despite being built to hold just 374 inmates.

A large percentage of inmates are pre-trial detainees who have not been sentenced in court.

In the communication to the relevant authority, the Prison Superintendent noted that feeding the inmates has become increasingly challenging and issued an ultimatum for the prison to stop accepting new admissions as of July 8, 2024.

However, the Ministry of Justice clarified that it had already resolved these subsistence issues prior to the media’s coverage of the situation.

“It is important to clarify that the prison superintendent does not have the authority to close the prison gates or halt admissions,” the release said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice says it’s remain dedicated to upholding and enforcing the rule of law while protecting the rights of all residents and citizens, adhering to the highest international human rights standards.

“This statement serves as a formal disclaimer against any contrary information that has been disseminated. The Press and Public Affairs Section of the Ministry of Justice is the official body responsible for information dissemination,” the release concluded.