The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice expresses deep concern over the reported sale of the Mile 2 Central Prisons premises to the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA). As one of the country’s most sensitive security and human-rights infrastructures, any decision regarding its disposal must adhere to the highest standards of legality, transparency, and accountability. Current information surrounding the transaction raises more questions than answers.
EFSCRJ notes that Mile 2 is a public property and a strategic national institution. If GPA required the grounds for operational expansion, the government could have undertaken a lawful state-to-state transfer of ownership, consistent with the Public Finance Act, State Lands Act, and established administrative procedures. Instead, a direct sale without open tender, public disclosure, or parliamentary consultation raises serious governance concerns. The reported amount of USD$4 million also appears questionable for prime coastal land of such historical, security, and economic significance. No valuation report or competitive procurement process has been made public to justify this price.
We are further troubled by the lack of clarity on the operational implications of closing Mile 2. The Minister of Interior stated that a new prison facility would cost between USD$20 – $30 million. With Mile 2 reportedly sold for USD$4 million, the public is left without answers on how the remaining resources will be secured, what financing plan exists, and whether the relocation of inmates has been properly planned in line with national and international human-rights standards. The government has also not explained the fate of the Jeshwang and Janjanbureh facilities, which are already known to be in poor condition.
The absence of a policy statement, feasibility study, research document, or Cabinet-approved reform plan on the future of the country’s correctional system suggests inadequate consultation and insufficient strategic planning. Mile 2 is not merely a piece of land; it is a landmark in the country’s transitional-justice history. Many Gambians have proposed transforming it into a museum, heritage site, or educational facility. Such national conversations should precede any irreversible decision.
EFSCRJ therefore calls on the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Lands, and the Office of the President to immediately publish:
- The legal and policy basis for selling Mile 2 rather than transferring it.
- The Cabinet decision or authorizing document approving the sale.
- Any valuation report, feasibility assessment, or procurement documentation.
- The financial plan for constructing a new correctional facility.
- A detailed relocation and human-rights compliance strategy for inmates.
- Information on the future of the Jeshwang and Janjanbureh prisons.
EFSCRJ urges the National Assembly to exercise its full oversight authority to scrutinize this transaction and demand complete transparency. The disposal of such a significant state asset cannot be done quietly or opaquely. Citizens deserve full disclosure on decisions that affect national security, public finance, and human rights. As a nation still emerging from a painful history of abuse within Mile 2, Gambians must be assured that future decisions concerning this facility serve the public interest in line with the law.
2025 – The Year of Transparency and Accountability
