By: Godgift Harris
The Liberian Government has granted executive clemency to seventy-two (72) inmates across the country, a move that has drawn mixed reactions amid ongoing concerns about transparency, consistency and the broader state of the justice system. The decision, announced by Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, led to the release of inmates from various correctional facilities nationwide. Authorities said the action was taken under the President’s constitutional powers and framed it as an effort to promote compassion, reconciliation, and justice. According to the Ministry of Justice, the beneficiaries were selected following a review process that considered factors such as good behavior, time already served, health conditions and the nature of the offenses committed. However, the Ministry has not publicly disclosed the full list of beneficiaries or the specific criteria applied in each case, raising questions from civil society actors and legal observers about accountability and equal treatment under the law. Speaking during the release exercise, Cllr. Tweh said the clemency reflects President Boakai’s commitment to a humane justice system and insisted that the action should not be seen as undermining the rule of law. He urged the released individuals to return to their communities as law-abiding citizens and contribute positively to national development.
In remarks that appeared more political than judicial, the Justice Minister told the freed inmates to “go and serve the country in the best interest,” adding that Liberia now depends on them as peaceful citizens and encouraging them to “go and sin no more.”
He also extended Christmas and New Year greetings, urging them to reunite with their families and act as “ambassadors” in their communities.
While families of the released inmates have welcomed the decision as an act of mercy, critics argue that executive clemency, when exercised without full public disclosure, risks deepening public mistrust in a justice system already plagued by prolonged pretrial detention, overcrowded prisons and allegations of selective justice, human rights advocates say that although reducing prison congestion is necessary, lasting reform requires systemic changes, including faster trials, improved legal representation for indigent defendants, and clear, transparent standards for clemency decisions.
As Liberia continues to grapple with justice sector reform, the mass release of inmates seems to have once again placed the spotlight on the balance between compassion and accountability and whether executive actions are being matched with meaningful institutional reforms.