Prison Conditions : Lawmakers Evaluate Situation, Make Recommendations

In order to better guarantee the rights of those in detention centres, members of the Constitutional Laws Committee of the National Assembly constituted into different groups paid a field trip to all central prisons in the ten regions of the country. The report of their various findings was presented on June 24, 2022 as the Committee had its exchange session chaired by the President, Hon. Zondol Hersesse.  The members in their reports observed that the prisons are overcrowded with a vast majority of the inmates being remand prisoners (persons awaiting trial before the Court of First Instance), convicted prisoners serving a sentence of between three months and two years, and persons imprisoned upon the execution of a committal warrant of either a fine, costs (for the benefit of the State) and damages for the benefit of victims. 
The report on the visit to the Bertoua central prison, highlighted the practice of religious tolerance, presence of a health dispensary, 15 minutes of allowed visitors per day, prisoners offered one meal a day and the practice of socio-cultural activities (sports). 
At the Ngaoundere central prison, Hon. Saya Kaigama’s report stated that the prison was divided into several quarters (boys, men women and military) with the rights to education, health and religion respected. Though overcrowded, the report states that hygiene is maintained. 
In the Littoral Region, the Douala central prison at Newbell as observed, suffers from overcrowding as they are currently 4,526 inmates for a prison constructed to host 960 prisoners. The right to information is resp...