By Makutu Manneh
Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services, has provided clarification on President Adama Barrow’s decision to grant clemency to 56 male inmates at Mile 2 Central Prison on February 11, 2026.
According to the minister, the beneficiaries were serving sentences for offences ranging from theft, conspiracy, possession of prohibited substances, and willful damage to property. Their penalties ranged from fines of D50,000 to prison terms of up to one year. He noted that while most of those released were Gambian nationals, a small number were Senegalese and Guinean citizens who have since been deported.
Responding to public concerns about the absence of women among those pardoned, Dr. Ceesay emphasized that the process is both transparent and rigorous.
“I have seen people saying there were no women. What happened is that the process of pardon is very transparent and very rigorous,” he said.
He explained that applications for clemency are reviewed by the Prerogative of Mercy Committee, which includes representatives of the Christian and Islamic councils, the Attorney General, and is supported by a prison committee. These bodies jointly vet cases against established criteria.
“So if no woman meets the criteria, then obviously you cannot bring them there,” he stated.
The minister added that eligibility largely depends on the nature of the offence, with priority given to low-level crimes such as stealing. He noted that most female inmates at Mile 2 do not fall within the categories typically considered for pardon under this framework.
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