The National Human Rights Commission’s latest assessment has raised fresh questions about the effectiveness of President Adama Barrow’s policies on justice, security, institutional reform and implementation of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission recommendations.
During its annual press briefing, the Commission acknowledged progress in legal reforms and the establishment of the Reparations Commission. However, it warned that the implementation of several TRRC recommendations remains slow, despite repeated commitments by the Barrow administration to deliver justice and accountability for victims of human-rights violations.
According to the Commission, only 65 TRRC-related activities have been fully implemented, while 155 remain ongoing and 84 have not started. The findings could intensify public scrutiny of the government’s transitional-justice programme and its commitment to ensuring that perpetrators identified by the TRRC are held accountable.
The NHRC also expressed concern over rising violent crime, delays within the justice system and the conduct of some security officers. It warned that the use of excessive force and prolonged detention without trial could undermine public confidence in the government’s security and justice policies.
Conditions in prisons and police cells were also criticised. The Commission cited overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate healthcare, limited rehabilitation services and lengthy pretrial detention as major human-rights concerns requiring urgent government intervention.
Although President Barrow’s administration has introduced new criminal legislation and established institutions intended to advance justice and reparations, the NHRC’s assessment suggests that implementation remains a significant challenge.
The Commission urged the government to strengthen coordination, increase funding and ensure that institutions responsible for justice and accountability are fully operational.
With the December 2026 presidential election looming, the findings could become a major issue in the national political debate with citizens likely to weigh whether President Barrow’s policies have delivered meaningful justice, security and institutional reform.
