Established by Babucarr Keita following his release from prison, the foundation earlier on raised fund to be able to help release some prisoners, who were convicted for minor crimes and couldn't pay their fines that led to their sentence.
At the event, Babucarr Keita, founder of BKF recalled that he started his initiative when an inmate approached him to ask for assistance after he was caught with mobile phone.
"As a result, he was convicted and charged with1000 dalasis. I therefore help him to pay his fine and he was released. I later ask a prison officer if I can pay such amount so I will be release and he told me our crimes are different as his own was minor. I then came up with the idea that anytime I come out from prison I will set up a Foundation to help the inmates that couldn't pay their fines."
Keita reminded that Prisons is supposed to reform people and not to criminalise them.
He thus urged the released prisoners to reform themselves and be good ambassadors of the prison.
For his part, Manding Saidykhan, principal secretary at the Ministry of Interior, thanked Bob Keita through his foundation for the move.
He recalled that this is the first time such a thing has happened at the Prison by a one-time prisoner, who thought and came up with an initiative to help other inmates.
"The ministry of Interior is very much appreciative when we heard about this. The information came to us through the Gambia Prison Service that Bob Keita has a foundation to support the institution. As a ministry, our role is to make sure we reform the institution and make sure we move to International standard so that whosoever comes here will feel like home and not feel like in a hell. "
Masour Jobe, a representative from National Human Rights Commission, expressed delight to be part of such a great event, which he said, is part of the mandate of his commission.
The commission, he added, has a broad mandate to make sure the rights of individuals are respected, protected but also fulfilled in The Gambia.
"If someone is convicted and sentenced to prison your only right that is taken from you is your freedom right to movement. But we know aside from that right we know inmate faced other challenges such as the overcrowding of prison such as toilets, bedding and even the foods there are lot of challenges in term of this provisions that are provided to the inmates. For me it is a unique opportunity to once again call on the government and the Ministries of Justice and Interior and The Gambia Prison Services to put more efforts in trying to make sure the right of inmates and prisoners are respected and fulfilled as required by the constitution and other regional and international institutions that the Gambia is a party to."
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