Several female inmates in Sierra Leone have been released from prison following a rehabilitation program aimed at supporting vulnerable women in detention. Among those freed is Sento, a mother of two who had been serving a one-year sentence at the Freetown Women’s Correctional Centre. She said she was arrested for loitering near a temporary shelter where authorities suspected criminals and drug users often gathered. “I had no one to help me,” she explained, adding that her husband also tried unsuccessfully to arrange her release. Sento is one of four women released through the intervention of the Football for Reform Initiative, a programme founded by Isha Johansen that uses football and skills training to promote rehabilitation and social reintegration.
Johansen said the initiative has worked closely with the correctional facility for the past five years and has helped secure the release of around 100 female inmates during that period. Many participants receive vocational training such as tailoring, crafts and other practical skills while in custody to help them find employment after release. Advocates say many women in detention are imprisoned for minor offences or because they lack legal representation. According to the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, more than 200 women are currently held in female detention facilities across the country. Officials say limited resources remain a major challenge in providing effective rehabilitation programmes.
Deputy Director General Susan Baby Koker said correctional center often lack equipment for vocational training, including sewing machines, carpentry tools and plumbing equipment that could help inmates develop practical skills. Supporters of the Football for Reform initiative are now calling for expanded legal aid and greater investment in rehabilitation program to help women rebuild their lives after leaving prison. The releases were timed to coincide with International Women’s Day, highlighting the importance of second chances and social reintegration for women in conflict with the law.
