By Mariama Marong
Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the Banjul High Court has urged the Government to urgently address the shortage of prison officers, following repeated delays in court proceedings caused by the late arrival of inmates from prison.
The issue came to light on Monday, 6th, and Tuesday, 7th October 2025, when court sessions at the High Court’s Criminal Division were delayed because prison officers failed to bring inmates to court on time.
When questioned by the presiding judge, a prison officer explained that the Prison Service is struggling with a serious shortage of personnel to transport and supervise inmates to and from court.
“The reason for our delay in court is that we are facing a limited workforce, and we are not many in the prison. We even have to seek support from our sports team officials to assist,” the officer told the court.
Justice Jaiteh expressed strong disapproval over the matter, describing it as “totally unacceptable” and a violation of the inmates’ right to a fair and timely trial. He said that the delay in producing remand prisoners has caused unnecessary adjournments, wasting valuable court time and undermining the efficient administration of justice.
“It has come to the attention of this Court that the prison authorities are currently facing serious logistical and operational challenges in ensuring the timely production of remand prisoners before the Court,” Justice Jaiteh stated.
He said the main cause of the delay is the lack of sufficient male prison officers to escort and supervise inmates to and from the court premises.
“This situation has regrettably resulted in repeated delays in court proceedings and overall disruption in the administration of justice. Such delays are inconsistent with the constitutional guarantee of a fair hearing within a reasonable time, as enshrined in Section 24(3) of the 1997 Constitution,” he said.
Justice Jaiteh emphasized that the right to a timely trial is a fundamental safeguard for accused persons and a cornerstone of public confidence in the justice system.
He directed the Minister of Interior—as the line minister responsible for the administration of the Gambia Prisons Service—and the Inspector General of Police to take immediate and coordinated action to ensure all remand prisoners are produced before the courts without delay.
The judge further called on the Ministry of Interior to conduct an urgent assessment of the current staffing levels within the Prisons Service, particularly the availability of escort officers, and to consider temporary redeployment of officers from other security units to assist with court duties. He also called for a review of logistical arrangements, including transportation and scheduling mechanisms, to ensure smooth and timely transfer of prisoners.
Justice Jaiteh instructed the Inspector General of Police to provide the necessary support and cooperation to the Prisons Service, warning that failure to comply would amount to a violation of the constitutional rights of detained persons.
“Timely access to justice is a constitutional right and an administrative obligation binding on all state institutions,” he declared. “Non-compliance with these directives will not only undermine judicial efficiency but may also amount to a violation of the fundamental rights of detained persons.”
Justice Jaiteh concluded by urging all relevant authorities to uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is neither delayed nor denied.
